The m's training session rimarily focused on recovery, as usual. But after training, Castel Volturno weled a rare visitor:

  Former Real Madrid teical director and Argentine football legend Je Valdano.

  In fact, Valdano had quietly arrived in he previous day and had beeed iands of the San Paolo Stadium to watch the match between Napoli and Chelsea. Sitting beside him were Napoli chairman De Laurentiis and general manager Marino.

  The purpose of Valdano's visit was not just to reect with Gao Shen, nor merely to watch a Napoli match, but to initiate discussions with the club.

  As early as January, when A star Kaka's trao Maer City fell through, the world already khat former Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez would return to the Bernabéu this summer. By now, this was aable reality.

  At least for now, no one could challenge Florentino in Real Madrid's uping presidential eles.

  This time, Florentino's eback was apanied by grand ambitions. He po achieve in one summer what Ramón Calderón had attempted but failed to aplish: the creation of anacticos.

  More superstars! Younger superstars!

  His goal was t in marquee pyers from each of the major European leagues: Cristiano Ronaldo from Maer United in the Premier League, Kaka from A in Serie A, Benzema from Lyon in Ligue 1, and Ribéry from Bayern Muni the Bundesliga.

  But a team full of stars also requires supp pyers to plement them.

  During the heyday of the first Gacticos, alongside superstars like Zidane and Ronaldo were indispensable role pyers like Makelele and Sori.

  This time, Florentino seemed to have learned from past mistakes.

  Liverpool's Xabi Alonso, Napoli's Di Maria, Sanchez, Biglia, and Vargas—all of these names were on his radar.

  However, recruiting pyers on such a scale ot be aplished ht.

  Eveire three-month summer transfer window might not be enough.

  As a ember of Florentino's team, Valdano's task was to make early tact with clubs, gauge their attitudes toward Real Madrid's i in their pyers, and adjust the trarategy accly. It was also a way to y the groundwork for summer iations.

  …

  Valdano was a highly respected figure in European football and a former teammate of Maradona. With this deeper e, everyone in Naples weled him warmly.

  This was especially true fao Shen's squad, which had several South Ameri pyers. Di Maria, Pastore, and Biglia were all Argentine, so they naturally felt a sense of closeness with Valdano.

  Gao Shen, Carlo, Zidane, Lucas, and others personally apanied Valdano on a tour of Castel Volturno.

  "There have been rumors in the media that Napoli's training base is like a magical boratory," Valdano said with curiosity. "Not only do pyers here seem full of energy, but their skills and progress improve dramatically."

  After visiting the medical facilities and gym, Valdano was amazed by the state-of-the-art equipment.

  Listening to the introdus, he was visibly impressed.

  "Gao, I still remember when we had diogether in Madrid. You told me that the few years would be a golden era for advaeology in professional football. Whether in youth training, stific coag, or rehabilitation therapy, everything would develop by leaps and bounds."

  "You predicted that young pyers would emerge earlier, and highly disciplined pyers would retire ter, even pying until forty without issue. Now it seems everything you said is ing true."

  Valdano's words came from the heart.

  Carlo, Zidane, and the others looked at Gao Shen with astonishment.

  They had no idea that Gao Shen had made such predis while coag Real Madrid.

  Was this really possible?

  Feeling the curious gazes around him, Gao Shen smiled bitterly and shook his head. "I just like to read, explore, and learn about random things. I'm ied in new ideas. That's how I ended up as an i celebrity."

  The group ughed at his self-depreg joke.

  Someone jokingly asked why Gao Shen became an i celebrity.

  Gao Shen's reply was simple and humorous: "I registered early."

  Of course, this was an uatement. If early registration was all it took, what about the tless others whistered before him?

  But Gao Shen quickly noticed Valdano's i gaze and coughed twice, feigning seriousness.

  "Je, I suggest you trol those greedy eyes of yours," Gao Shen said, half-joking.

  Valdano ughed awkwardly.

  He was ihinking about introdug simir high-tech equipment to Valdebebas once Florentiuro Real Madrid. The goal was to make Real Madrid's training base the most advanced in the world, both in hardware and software.

  Hardware was easy to acquire, but taleaff were not.

  Most of Gao Shen's team members, from Zidao Carlo, Lucas, and even Bueura, were tied to Real Madrid in some way.

  Gao Shen looked at Valdano and said sternly, "I'm warning you: if you dare poach my people, we'll have problems!"

  Valdano raised his hands in mock surrender. "I wouldn't dare. Besides, why go to the trouble? I just bring you to Real Madrid and capture everything in one move, right?"

  Gao Shen paused for a moment, then chuckled but made no ent. He noticed Carlo, Zidane, Lucas, and others exge meaningful looks.

  For many of them, returning to Real Madrid would be the ultimate career milestone, a ce to walk bato the Bernabéu in glory.

  In private, some of them had expressed this desire to Gao Shen, but he never gave them a definitive response.

  He uood that Florentino's vision for the club differed signifitly from his own.

  This wasn't a criticism. Differences in philosophy were iable.

  Gao Shen's team was exceptional, but no one was irrepceable. If they chose to leave, he wouldn't force them to stay. The challenge would be finding equally suitable repts, as years of colboration had created a level of mutual uanding that couldn't easily be replicated.

  However, Gao Shen himself was the lin of the team.

  Without them, Gao Shen would remain who he was. Without Gao Shen, it was uain if they could sustain their curreations.

  Of course, Zidane was an exception. As a legendary pyer, he was destio carve his own path regardless.

  …

  Iernoon, Gao Shen tinued leading the team's training at Castel Volturno. Meanwhile, Valdauro Naples for further discussions with De Laurentiis and Marino.

  Gao Shen stayed out of these versations.

  His position was already sensitive, aing involved would only plicate matters.

  The media and fans were abuzz with specution that he would coach Real Madrid this summer. Iy, no agreement had been made.

  Even Florentino's grand pns fning superstars didn't involve sulting him.

  Gao Shen uood Florentino's iions weren't malicious, but this highlighted their fual differences in philosophy.

  Florentino's decisions were driven by Real Madrid's ercial and brand is, not football itself. This created an irreparable gap between them.

  If Gao Sheo return to Real Madrid, his goal would be success od personal growth, not to destroy the foundation he had worked so hard to build over the years.

  It had taken him three years to solidify his reputation in European football. If he failed at Real Madrid, both his career and the club's fans would suffer.

  That evening, after a dinner hosted by De Laurentiis, Gao Shen and Zidane apanied Valdano back to his hotel. The three sat down to discuss Real Madrid's future pns.

  …

  "I have to admit, your summer transfer pn is ambitious and truly impressive," Gao Shen said sincerely. "It's unpreted in the history of football."

  Whether in this life or his previous one, Gao Shen had always admired Real Madrid and the sed Gacticos project. His praise was genuine.

  Valdano's eyes lit up, thinking Gao Shen was expressing goodwill. He ughed.

  "In fact, I'm also very optimistic about this pn. I believe it correct the mistakes of the first Gacticos era. This time, we're setting strict age limits fnings and prioritizing the role of the head coach more than ever before."

  He paused, then looked directly at Gao Shen.

  "We are all looking forward to seeing you return to the Bernabéu as head coach."

  This was essentially an official invitation. At this moment, Valdano almost spoke on behalf of Florentino.

  Zidane's excitement was evident. He thought Gao Shen would accept.

  After all, who could say no to Real Madrid?

  But Gao Shen smiled faintly, shook his head, and sighed.

  "No, Je, I think you've misuood me. I wasn't finished."

  Valdano and Zidane exged fused looks.

  What's going on?

  "We were just having a lovely versation, everythi perfect then suddenly, you ge the subject?"

  Gao Shen smiled bitterly. "What I meant to say is that while your pn is fasating and unpreted, I don't think it will succeed."

  Valdano was stunned. "Why?"

  "Three years ago in Madrid, I told you and Sacchi that times had ged," Gao Shen replied calmly.

  "And now, I'm telling you again: times have ged."