Chapter 302: Chapter 302: Devil Trainer
On his way back to Naples from Castel Volturno, Marino was deep in thought, replaying Gao Shen's ambitious plans in his mind.
He understood Gao Shen's relentless drive, and Gao Shen, in turn, understood exactly what motivated Marino. Gao Shen had casually reminded Marino of a painful memory: years ago, when Napoli won the league title, it was Marino who had assembled that winning squad, including bringing Maradona to the team. Yet, it was Luciano Moggi, not Marino, who reaped the recognition and later ascended to the position of Juventus' general manager, eventually becoming the godfather of Italian football.
Marino had never quite reconciled with that injustice.
He deeply respected Moggi's capabilities, but he couldn't shake the feeling that if given the chance, he could have done as well, if not better and certainly without the scandals that eventually tainted Moggi's career.
So, when Marino returned to Napoli with Gao Shen, he had a rekindled hope one that had seemed impossible until now. He dreamed of bringing another league title to his hometown, to finally showcase his own talents and leave his own mark on Italian football.
Gao Shen knew all this, which is why he was confident that Marino would back him in his plans.
As Marino thought of Gao Shen's clever tactics, he couldn't help but smile. But then, as he considered De Laurentiis, his expression grew more serious, adjusting his glasses thoughtfully, the reflection on the lenses giving him a sharp, discerning look.
---
Back at the club headquarters, Marino headed straight for De Laurentiis' office.
De Laurentiis was a man who thrived on involvement, even in the smallest details. Although Gao Shen had largely shut him out of day-to-day operations at Castel Volturno, De Laurentiis still enjoyed micromanaging the office affairs.
The older generation often found it hard to delegate and trust others with power.
Marino knocked and entered De Laurentiis' office.
"What's going on? I heard there was a lot of noise over there," De Laurentiis asked.
Marino's heart sank momentarily, but he wasn't surprised. Knowing De Laurentiis, it would be no shock if he had informants planted at Castel Volturno.
It wasn't necessarily that De Laurentiis didn't trust Gao Shen. He simply had an overpowering need for control and wanted to be informed about every single detail in the club, no matter how small. Ideally, he would make all the decisions himself.
So, despite his agreement with Gao Shen to give him autonomy, he still placed his own people within Castel Volturno. It was the only way he could sleep soundly at night.
That was also part of the reason why Gao Shen had orchestrated the heated argument with Lucas and Buenaventura in the conference room—not only to persuade Marino but also to make sure De Laurentiis got wind of it.
Reflecting on all this, Marino sighed deeply and shook his head. "It was pretty intense. If I hadn't stepped in, Fernando Lucas might have been fired on the spot."
At those words, Marino noticed a slight smile playing on De Laurentiis's lips, and he realized he had to change tactics.
"But honestly, I think the situation's a bit exaggerated."
De Laurentiis raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"There are definitely problems, some serious ones even, but Lucas is Gao Shen's friend. The two wouldn't have clashed that severely. Still, the coaching staff is definitely feeling the pressure, and Gao Shen has high expectations. So tempers are flaring, and he's starting to vent."
Marino delivered his explanation in a calm tone, careful to maintain a balance.
Did he truly believe Gao Shen was losing his composure?
Not really.
"The main issue right now is that Gao Shen's demands are simply too high, and the coaching staff is struggling to keep up. Plus, the team's recent form hasn't been ideal, which is adding to the stress."
Marino sighed for effect.
De Laurentiis smiled slightly, then said, "The team is doing well—they're second in Serie A. Isn't that enough?"
"He wants to push harder," Marino replied.
"Push for what?"
"The championship," Marino answered, without hesitation.
De Laurentiis paused, taken aback. After a moment, he asked, "And how much will that cost?"
"He mentioned bringing in a high-level fitness coach and some equipment. It would be an initial investment of about one million euros, with possibly some additional funds needed later, but nothing too extreme."
"That much?" De Laurentiis' brows knitted at the mention of money.
In recent years, Napoli had been running at a loss, and most of the funding had come directly from De Laurentiis' pocket. And when Gao Shen sold Gervinho to Arsenal, he had taken nearly three million euros in profit, a decision that had infuriated De Laurentiis to the point of cursing Marino for a week.
"I think so too; it's quite a bit. But Gao Shen insists it's based on the standards of a top-tier Serie A team. He's not happy with the team's recent form and is worried that we might struggle to secure a top-four finish."
De Laurentiis' expression shifted.
Top four? That meant Champions League qualification.
And a spot in the Champions League meant massive revenue, at least 20 million euros.
Seeing De Laurentiis' reaction, Marino chuckled inwardly.
He knew the club owner was always calculating the risks and returns, and the promise of Champions League revenue was hard to ignore.
When it comes to budget discussions, Marino had learned the art of persuasion: highlight the potential losses if funding is denied and the potential gains if approved. And above all, make sure this investment would keep paying off beyond just this season.
"Gao Shen also said that if this reform succeeds, even if he leaves someday, we'll still have one of the fittest and best-conditioned teams in Italy. We'd be on par with the famous Milan Lab."
Now, De Laurentiis' interest was thoroughly piqued.
Everyone knew that, for now, Gao Shen and Napoli were aligned in their ambitions. But with the current uncertainty, no one could say how long Gao Shen would stay.
If Gao Shen left and took his coaching staff with him, would all the investment they'd made go to waste?
This was something De Laurentiis had to consider carefully.
As a private owner, unlike the membership-based structures of clubs like Real Madrid or Barcelona, De Laurentiis had to be cost-conscious. He wasn't a billionaire like Abramovich who could splurge on whims. Thrift was practically etched on his forehead.
But Gao Shen was now offering a long-term, sustainable project, one with lasting benefits.
"What do you think?" De Laurentiis asked Marino, still weighing his options.
"I think the club could find a way to allocate the necessary funds to support this, and we can also assign some of our own staff to assist, perhaps under the pretense of learning. Gao Shen's team is filled with highly skilled individuals," Marino suggested.
Those words struck a chord with De Laurentiis.
Most people think that football success relies solely on players, which is true to an extent, but staff especially high-level coaches and analysts are crucial too. Players come and go, but talented staff can create a lasting foundation.
If Napoli could cultivate its own high-level coaching and analytics team, even if Gao Shen were to leave, the club wouldn't lose all the progress they'd made.
After thinking it over, De Laurentiis made a decision. Though it pained him to spend more, he gritted his teeth and said, "Pierpaolo, you'll be in charge of this. Make sure to keep the budget under control."
"Understood," Marino nodded.
---
When Gao Shen got the call from Marino, he was having dinner with his coaching staff at a restaurant. Hearing that the budget had been approved, Gao Shen laughed and invited Marino to join them for the meal.
Marino politely declined but reminded Gao Shen to submit a detailed proposal as soon as possible.
After hanging up, Gao Shen raised his glass to the coaching staff with a grin. "Let's celebrate the plan's been approved!"
Everyone laughed and stood up to toast him.
In his previous life, Gao Shen had worked in companies where getting project funding was often the most frustrating task. And the bigger the company, the harder it was to get that green light.
Especially with a boss like De Laurentiis, who couldn't always distinguish between necessary and unnecessary expenses. He only cared about tangible returns.
Was he wrong to think this way? Not really, since he was the one putting up the money.
Marino's willingness to help was also fueled by his own belief in the project's potential. If successful, this could greatly benefit Napoli, enhancing their chances in the league and solidifying Marino's influence within the club.
When dealing with a boss like De Laurentiis, you had to paint an irresistible picture of benefits. Only then would he approve the budget with a smile. Otherwise, no amount of flattery or sweet talk would work.
Of course, there was always another approach: Gao Shen could have insisted on the funding outright. But taking that route risked damaging his relationship with De Laurentiis, possibly beyond repair.
And a fractured relationship is difficult to mend.
"Everyone, enjoy your Christmas break because we'll be busy after that," Gao Shen said.
Then, turning to Lucas, he added, "I'll get you another analyst. The club will handle the hiring, but you'll be responsible for the interview and final selection. This analyst will report directly to you."
Lucas raised his glass with a grin. "Don't worry, I'll make sure the job gets done."
In a high-level coaching team, the analysis department was becoming increasingly critical, and their workload was growing by the day.
Not only did they have to review every training session meticulously, but they also had to conduct in-depth studies on each upcoming opponent. It was a tough job, to say the least.
"As for the fitness coach, I already have a suitable candidate in mind. I'll go meet him personally," Gao Shen said, glancing at Buenaventura. "Lorenzo, after Christmas, you'll come with me."
Buenaventura nodded in agreement.
The new fitness coach would be working closely with Buenaventura, so it made sense for him to be involved in the recruitment.
Back when Gao Shen was just a fan, even years into the future, he remembered how domestic media sometimes confused the roles of physical trainers and fitness coaches. But in reality, they had distinct roles with clear divisions of responsibility.
In Gao Shen's new setup, Buenaventura would remain the head of physical conditioning, a role for which he was irreplaceable.
The new hire, however, would be a specialized fitness coach someone with a reputation as a devil trainer, a figure well-known in the industry for pushing athletes to their physical limits.
A true "devil trainer" who could help turn Napoli's players into an unbreakable force on the field.
***
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