Chapter 241: Chapter 241: Gao, Add a Little More!
The conversation between Gao Shen and Guardiola was mostly playful banter, making fun of each other.
In reality, if Napoli truly wanted to poach a player from Barcelona, even without Guardiola as an intermediary, Gao Shen would have found a way. These decisions were far beyond what the two coaches could control.
Joking aside, Guardiola treated Gao Shen with warmth, inviting him to his home for dinner.
Guardiola's wife was a fashion designer, running her own company in Barcelona. The couple had two children, a son and a daughter, with their oldest daughter just turning six. The whole family welcomed Gao Shen.
Later that evening, Guardiola drove Gao Shen to a famous Spanish restaurant in the city center. It was clear that Guardiola was a regular there, as he had made a reservation by phone and walked straight into a private room upon arrival.
While they were chatting casually, Txiki Begiristain, Barcelona's technical director, joined them.
Begiristain was not a tall man, standing about 1.7 meters. As a player, he was a typical Spanish left winger, although not a product of Barcelona's famed academy. He hailed from northern Spain and emerged from Real Sociedad's youth system. At 24, he moved to Barcelona and was part of the legendary Barcelona Dream Team under Johan Cruyff. After leaving Barcelona, he had stints with Deportivo and eventually played in Japan before retiring.
In his role as Barcelona's technical director, Begiristain had become a savvy football executive. Upon sitting down, he started a conversation with Gao Shen about his time in Japan and the development of football in Asia, especially highlighting Japanese football's rapid growth during his time there.
For former football stars, the post-playing career path usually diverges into two routes: becoming a coach or entering management. Begiristain had chosen management, a common transition for players who wanted to stay in football but didn't necessarily want to coach. And while he wasn't considered a visionary in his executive role, Begiristain had done a decent job overseeing Barcelona's transfers and youth development.
After some small talk, Gao Shen moved directly to the point.
"To be honest, Txiki, there's a player in your youth ranks that caught my eye last season—Sergio Busquets. I don't think you're planning to promote him to the first team anytime soon, are you?" Gao Shen asked, smiling.
Guardiola, sitting next to him, raised an eyebrow, feeling alarmed.
This guy is here to poach my player, he thought to himself.
Just a few days ago, Guardiola had submitted his plans for Barcelona's second team, which included promoting Busquets from the youth team. But...
"Wait, Gao, aren't you looking for a defensive midfielder?" Guardiola asked, confused.
Gao Shen looked surprised. "Yes, why?"
Guardiola and Begiristain exchanged puzzled glances, both sensing something off.
"Sergio Busquets is a winger. He scored seven goals in 26 games last season," Guardiola said.
"A winger?" Gao Shen was dumbfounded. That tall, somewhat gangly player as a winger? He felt like he was looking at the situation with a giant question mark over his head.
Are they serious?
"I don't think he's fit to be a winger. I'm actually thinking of him as a deep-lying midfielder," Gao Shen said, scratching his head.
Guardiola, still skeptical, nodded slightly, recognizing Gao Shen's talent for spotting potential and transforming players into new positions. "Well, maybe I'll give it a try next season and see how he does as a holding midfielder."
Begiristain, ever the astute businessman, quickly chimed in, "Gao, if you're considering him for midfield, you really do have a good eye for talent."
Gao Shen blinked. "So, are you willing to sell him?"
Begiristain spread his hands with an apologetic smile. "I'm afraid not. Busquets' father is an old teammate of mine. I was the one who brought him into La Masia. It would be... difficult to sell him."
Gao Shen sighed. "I knew it. I've been set up by the both of you."
Guardiola and Begiristain exchanged amused glances and burst out laughing.
"Gao, the word around Europe is that you have an eye for talent. Look at the players you picked for Real Madrid and now in Napoli. Honestly, and I'm not just saying this to flatter you—if anyone deserves credit for spotting talent, it's you," Begiristain said, giving him a thumbs up.
"Yeah, yeah, enough of that. Just tell me, is Busquets for sale or not?" Gao Shen pressed.
"Honestly, I can't sell him. I can't explain that to his father," Begiristain replied with a smile.
Gao Shen could only laugh bitterly.
Of course, this was within his expectations. But that didn't make it any less frustrating.
"So, I came all this way just to pick out a player for you for free?"
Begiristain chuckled but quickly offered a compromise. "If there are any other players you're interested in who are on the transfer list, we could certainly talk."
"If they're already on the transfer list, do you think I'd bother coming to you? Unless, of course, you're offering a discount."
Guardiola, well aware of Gao Shen's shrewd negotiation tactics, quickly intervened. "It can't be too big of a discount."
Begiristain caught on and nodded. "Yes, a reasonable price."
Gao Shen gave them both a withering look. "I see what's happening here. You two are ganging up on me!"
Seeing Gao Shen deflated was a rare sight, and Guardiola couldn't help but relish the moment. Gao Shen was usually brimming with confidence, so seeing him taken down a notch felt strangely satisfying.
"Seriously though, Txiki, the players you've put on the transfer list aren't exactly top-quality," Gao Shen said, shaking his head.
Begiristain and Guardiola shared a knowing smile. "Well, what do you expect? If they were top-quality, it wouldn't be you looking at them," Begiristain said with a wink.
"How much for Belletti?" Gao Shen asked, getting back on track.
"At least six million euros," Begiristain replied.
"Six million? He's already 31 years old! That's daylight robbery," Gao Shen retorted.
"Well, he's still better than your current options at right-back, isn't he?" Begiristain teased.
The whole of Europe knew that Napoli's right-back situation had been exposed by Inter Milan in that humiliating 3-0 defeat. It was no secret that Gao Shen wanted to reinforce that position.
"Too expensive. We can't afford that, especially with his wages," Gao Shen said, shaking his head.
Begiristain shrugged, as if to say, "What can I do?"
Gao Shen sighed. "It's tough for small teams like us to compete with the giants when it comes to wages."
Then a thought struck him. "Wait, what about Thiago Motta? I heard he's on the way out."
"He's not officially on the list, but yes, he wants to leave," Begiristain confirmed.
At 25 years old, Motta had struggled to secure playing time at Barcelona. After suffering from a string of injuries, his performances had declined, and the club's recent acquisitions had pushed him further down the pecking order.
"I heard you offered him to Inter Milan for 1.5 million euros," Gao Shen said.
Begiristain quickly shook his head. "No, no. His market value is still around six million. Even if he's had fewer chances to play, that doesn't mean we're letting him go for a cut-rate price."
Gao Shen nodded. "That makes sense. But I'm not interested in signing someone who's injury-prone."
Begiristain and Guardiola exchanged glances. They knew Gao Shen was trying to drive the price down.
Thiago Motta, once considered one of the most promising midfielders in Barcelona's youth system, had struggled to reach his full potential. Injuries and a loss of form had diminished his confidence, and with the arrival of Yaya Toure, Motta's future at Barcelona was bleak.
"We've had interest from several clubs," Begiristain said. "But no one is willing to meet our asking price."
Gao Shen wasn't surprised. "You might want to cut your losses while you can."
Begiristain sighed, knowing Gao Shen was probably right.
After a moment's pause, he leaned in. "Gao, just add a little more, and I'll sell him to you."
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