"Boss!"
After cluding his dinner with Gao Shen, Mubarak returo his hotel room and immediately made a video call to his boss in the Middle East to report the test updates and progress.
"You met him?"
"Yes, I did. We talked for over an hour."
"And? What's your impression?"
"I feel like he's the person who help us rise."
"Are you that fident? You're usually not oo make hasty judgments."
"He's very unique, and I'm pletely vinced by him," Mubarak affirmed.
Mansour, oher end of the call, paused momentarily before asking, "How about the ercial sponsorship iations? Did he agree?"
"He didn't agree yet. He said he needed more time to sider it. He's very rational," Mubarak praised again.
It was clear that although Mubarak had only met Gao Shen once, he had been deeply impressed by his uanding of football, his insights, and his measured approach to business matters.
"Twe years old… incredible!" Mansour nodded in approval.
That's 10 million euros! Even with such a lucrative ao Shen mao remain posed and rational.
Mansour himself wasn't much older, but having grown up in the royal family, he naturally had araordinary perspective on matters.
"Make sure someone tihe ercial sponsorship iations. Ohis retionship is established, future colborations will be much easier. At the very least, we'll build mutual trust," Mansour instructed.
Mubarak nodded. "Uood."
Both sponsorship deals had beeiculously selected. Although the sums offered appeared astronomical—like a pie falling from the sky fao Shen—both Emirates Airlines and the UAE Tourism Board saw enormous potential in the Asian and ese markets. They were keen to intensify their promotional efforts there.
Given Gao Shen's current fame and influence, he was undoubtedly worth such a high price tag.
Additionally, these colborations served as a stepping stone for Mubarak and Maer City to build a closer retionship with Gao Shen.
Whether Gao Shen chose Real Madrid or aeam in the summer didn't matter. Opportunities for future colboration would still exist. Even if Maer City needed advice or assistance, Mubarak believed Gao Shen wouldn't refuse to lend a hand.
---
Gao Shen had a vague idea of what was happening but didn't overthink it.
To put it bluntly, with his curreation and status, tless teams, sponsors, and individuals were eager to associate with him. Many wao establish a e, and even more wished to maintain one.
As Lucas had once joked, if Gao Shen announced he would visit a specifiightclub on a certain date, there would undoubtedly be a swarm of beautiful women from all over the world flying in just to meet him.
Everyone khat being lio Gao Shen, eveingly, could dramatically elevate their status. Appearing with him in public, even if only for one night would instantly catapult them to fame, nding them on the front pages of major European media outlets the day.
In the past few months aloabloids had ed out weekly reports about an Italian socialite g to be pregnant with Gao Shen's child, a Roman "godmother" willing to date him, or a famous actress deg Gao Shen as her ideal partner.
Gao Shen had grown aced to this and regarded it as part of his reality.
He wasn't surprised that Mubarak had used this opportunity to approach him.
As for the UAE's sponsorship ao Shen en to it.
Why not accept the money if it was oable?
Of course, he didn't think the UAE would lose out on the deal.
At the end of the day, capitalists always calcuted everything. If they were willing to offer such a generous tract, it meant they saw the potential fnifit returns on their iment.
Gao Shen's primary was safeguarding his owimate rights and is.
The following m, after a good night's sleep, he called Su Qing, timing it perfectly during her lunch break. He shared the sponsorship proposal and sought her input.
"As far as I know, what Liu Wenda said about the uping tourism agreemeween a and the UAE is accurate," Su Qing firmed.
This added credibility to the proposal.
"This is a serious matter. Didn't you have a and wyer handling your affairs before? I happen to know a senior colleague who specializes in tracts like this. I ask him to get involved. This way, we'll have someorustworthy overseeing the process, and both you and I remotely monitor things. It shouldn't pose any major issues."
Su Qing's suggestion aligned perfectly with Gao Shen's thoughts, and he agreed immediately.
"I also think you should establish a pany dedicated to managing this type of business. That way, you minimize the hassle and further tap into your ercial value," Su Qing proposed.
She believed Gao Shen's marketability was vastly uimated.
Otherwise, why would Emirates Airlines and the UAE Tourism Board offer such a massive tract?
It e in both European football that setting up a pany could legally reduce taxes signifitly. Many football stars and celebrities eveered panies in tax havens to maximize their earnings.
Well-known figures like Beckham and Zidane had utilized such strategies for years.
By parison, Gao Shen's approach was retively straightforward and pliant. He relied on legal methods to minimize taxes and ehat most of his agreements specified after-tax ine.
Gao Shen trusted Su Qing's judgment ahe matter in her hands.
After discussing business, they spent the rest of Su Qing's lunch break chatting about personal matters before ending the call.
---
Gao Shen's thoughts then turo Napoli, Maer City, and Real Madrid.
He uood that, in the eyes of clubs like Maer City or Napoli, he was a rger-than-life figure—a pivotal figure. But in the eyes of a giant like Real Madrid, he was merely one of many famous coaches.
At best, he was the fvor of the moment.
Gao Shen knew Florentinenuinely wanted him to coach Real Madrid, but he also khe Real Madrid president wouldn't promise on his ma style or allow the team to be run acc to Gao Shen's ideas.
In Florentino's view, Real Madrid would remain Real Madrid, with or without Gao Shen.
Gao Shen's leverage simply wasn't strong enough.
"I will prove, with results, that I'm right!" Gao Shen vowed silently.
---
April 15th, Stadio San Paolo, Naples.
The sed leg of the Champions League quarter-finals saoli hosting Arsenal.
Despite Napoli's anding 4-0 victory in the first leg, which all but secured their spot in the semi-finals, Gao Shen refused to let his guard down. He fielded his stro lineup iurn leg.
Arsenal, opting for a 4-2-3-1 formation, deployed Song and Denilson as double defensive midfielders, adopting a more servative approach.
Wenger, having learned from the first leg, chose to py defensively in Naples. It was clear that Arsenal's focus was on damage trol rather than a miraculous eback.
The match began with Arsenal cautiously testing Napoli's resolve, hoping for an opening. But Gao Shen ensured his team remained disciplined, denying the Gunners any early opportunities.
Both teams pyed a cautious yet intense first half, whided in a goalless draw.
However, Napoli broke the deadlock early in the sed half.
Sanchez received a pass from Biglia, dribbled into the box from the left, and slotted a low shot past the Arsenal goalkeeper, putting Napoli ahead 1-0 aending their aggregate lead to 5-0.
Arsenal managed a sotion goal in the 73rd minute. Van Persie received a through ball from Fabregas, skillfully maneuvered past David Luiz, and unleashed a stunning volley into the .
Even as an oppo, Gao Shen couldn't help but admire the brilliance of Van Persie's strike.
The matded 1-1, but Napoli advanced with a anding 5-1 aggregate victory, seg their spot in the semi-finals.
---
Iher quarter-final match, Maer United faced Porto away.
The first leg had ended 2-2, but Ferguson's side struck early in Pal.
In just the sixth minute, Anderso up Cristiano Ronaldo for the opening goal, which proved to be the match-winner.
Maer United held onto their 1-0 victory, advang 3-2 on aggregate.
This set up a mouthwatering semi-final csh: Napoli versus Maer United.
Napoli would host the first leg, followed by the retur Old Trafford.
---
The other half of the draw saw Bara defeating Bayern Munich 1-0 in Germany, pleting a 5-0 aggregate win. Guardio's side tio impress and remaihe favorites to win the petition.
Meanwhile, Liverpool overcame Vilrreal 3-1 on aggregate, setting up a semi-final against Bara.
---
With the semi-final lineup finalized, the stage was set for an epiclusion to the Champions League.
Napoli stood as Serie A's sole representative, while the Premier League boasted two teams in the final four. Bara represented La Liga and remaihe bookmakers' top choice to win it all.
Fao Shen, however, the road ahead was daunting.
He now faced a t figure he had admired for years: Sir Alex Ferguson.
The challenge ahead was not just Maer United, but Ferguson himself, a man known for his tactical genius and adaptability.
For the first time, Gao She an unshakable sense of uainty.
How would Ferguson respond to him?
He truly had no idea.
***
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