Capítulo 243: Chapter 243: Digging into Real Madrid's Corner
Madrid Capital Airport, Spain.
As Gao Shen approached Lucas' car, the first thing he noticed was Buenaventura's disgruntled expression.
The fitness coach had arrived in Madrid on a flight just before Gao Shen, and as soon as Gao Shen climbed into the car, he was greeted by Buenaventura's complaints from the front passenger seat.
"Gao, why do I feel like in your eyes, I'm just a workhorse? A tired donkey you keep pushing!"
Both Gao Shen and Lucas burst into laughter.
"Lorenzo, don't think like that. You're not a donkey you're more like a mule," Gao Shen joked.
Buenaventura's face darkened. "A mule? That's even worse…"
Lucas, trying to maintain control of the steering wheel, was laughing so hard that he nearly swerved the car. These two guys could be quite the comedians.
"Hey, focus on driving!" Gao Shen reminded Lucas, concerned for their safety.
Once the car stabilized, Gao Shen turned his attention back to Buenaventura. With a smile, he said, "Look, stress gives motivation, and motivation leads to progress. Every time you said something was impossible, didn't you always pull through in the end?"
Buenaventura let out an exaggerated sigh. "I was only able to pull through because you forced me!" he protested, though he couldn't keep a straight face.
Indeed, ever since Gao Shen had convinced Buenaventura to join him at Real Madrid, he hadn't had a single moment of rest. While other fitness coaches might have had more relaxed schedules, Buenaventura found himself constantly problem-solving and working under pressure.
Now, with Napoli gearing up to contend for the Serie A title, Buenaventura had been busy fine-tuning the team's summer training plan. He was trying to address issues from the previous season, all while facing the immense pressure that came with raising the bar even higher.
But before he could relax during his vacation, Gao Shen hit him with another problem a detailed file on Thiago Motta, including the player's physical condition, knee surgery recovery, and medical reports.
Once again, Buenaventura was tasked with handling a player notorious for being injury-prone.
"Alright, enough complaining," Gao Shen teased. "What do you need to get it done?"
Buenaventura, knowing that Gao Shen wasn't going to let up, stopped sulking and got straight to the point.
"Look, Fernando has two assistants, and I'm all on my own."
Gao Shen raised an eyebrow. "So, you want an assistant as well?"
"One will be enough. I've already got someone in mind."
"Fine," Gao Shen agreed. "I trust you. You can make the arrangements. But let's be clear you're responsible for making sure everything goes smoothly with the physical training and injury prevention for the new season. No mistakes."
Buenaventura nodded eagerly. His request had been reasonable, and Gao Shen was glad to oblige, provided the fitness coach could handle the increased workload with the help of an assistant.
---
Once the serious discussion was out of the way, the conversation shifted back to familiar ground: Real Madrid.
It was Gao Shen's first time returning to Madrid after leaving the club, and there was a mixture of nostalgia and melancholy in the air.
After all, it was here that Gao Shen's coaching career had truly taken off.
"I heard Real Madrid reached out to you?" Lucas asked cautiously, concerned for his friend.
Gao Shen glanced at the assistant in the front seat. He knew that Lucas, like his entire family, was a die-hard Real Madrid fan. For Lucas, the thought of Gao Shen returning to coach Real Madrid was like a dream come true.
Not just for Lucas—Carlo, Lopis, Borrell, and even Buenaventura would probably feel the same way. After all, Spain was their home, and coaching at Real Madrid was the ultimate goal for anyone connected to the club.
But Gao Shen shook his head. "Yeah, Butragueño called me, but I turned him down."
Neither Lucas nor Buenaventura were surprised. They both understood that Gao Shen had invested too much into his project at Napoli to abandon it now.
After winning the league last season, Real Madrid had parted ways with Fabio Capello, much to the shock of many. Though Capello had delivered the title, neither the players nor the fans had been satisfied with his defensive style of play.
Gao Shen knew all too well the internal workings of the club. He had seen how Calderón and Mijatović operated behind the scenes. It was chaos a quagmire of power struggles and inflated egos.
"I don't think Real Madrid is the right fit for me right now," Gao Shen admitted. "The demands are just too high."
The truth was, winning wasn't enough at Real Madrid. You had to win in style, with flair. The fans, the players, and even the media demanded beautiful, attacking football. But at the same time, they wanted instant results a combination that was almost impossible to achieve.
Gao Shen knew that if he returned to Real Madrid, it would be like jumping back into the lion's den. He needed to wait until the club was truly ready for him when they were desperate enough to let go of their arrogance and trust in his methods.
With his reputation at an all-time high, Gao Shen had the luxury of picking his moments. He didn't need to rush.
Lucas and Buenaventura nodded in agreement. They understood the pressure that came with coaching Real Madrid. It wasn't a decision to be made lightly.
"But still, you just turned down Butragueño, and now you're having dinner with him?" Lucas asked, puzzled.
Gao Shen chuckled. "Having dinner is one thing. Coaching is another."
Buenaventura laughed, shaking his head. "We know what you're really up to. We just don't want to say it out loud."
"You guys don't know anything!" Gao Shen countered with a grin. "I'm just trying to save the future of Spanish football."
Both Lucas and Buenaventura rolled their eyes. "Yeah, sure. You're doing it for the greater good," Lucas muttered sarcastically.
Deep down, they all knew that Gao Shen was a shrewd operator. His return to Madrid wasn't just for nostalgia's sake. He had his eyes set on Real Madrid's talent pool, and he wasn't leaving without getting something in return.
---
Later that evening, Gao Shen met up with Emilio Butragueño at the iconic Juan Grill restaurant in Madrid. The Real Madrid legend greeted Gao Shen warmly, but the two of them wasted no time on pleasantries.
"Let me guess," Butragueño said with a wry smile. "You've got your eyes on one of our players."
Gao Shen put on an innocent expression. "What? Me? No way! I wouldn't poach your talent."
"Right," Butragueño said, unconvinced. "Let's just get straight to the point. I'm not the technical director anymore—I'm just in charge of public relations. I'll try to help you, but I can't make any promises."
Gao Shen grinned. "That's all I need. Let's get to it."
Butragueño chuckled, knowing full well that Gao Shen wasn't one to waste time.
"So, who do you have in mind? Cicinho or Arbeloa?"
"Cicinho," Gao Shen said.
Butragueño nodded. "We're looking for around €10 million."
Gao Shen shook his head. "That's too steep."
"What about De la Red?" Gao Shen asked next.
"He's not for sale," Butragueño replied. "He's very popular with the fans right now."
Gao Shen frowned. He had helped develop De la Red, and now it was coming back to bite him.
"Alright, then. How about Juan Mata?" Gao Shen asked, changing his approach.
Butragueño laughed. "No way. Mata and De la Red are both off-limits. The club has big plans for them."
Gao Shen sighed. "Come on, you have to give me something."
Butragueño leaned back in his chair. "Okay, let's negotiate. What do you want?"
Gao Shen leaned in, his eyes gleaming. "I'll take two players but this time, you've got to help me make it happen."
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