Starting With Real Madrid

"How did it go?"

As soon as Gao Shen put down the phone, Mubarak, Brian Kidd, Wood, Carlo, Lucas, and the others in his hotel room all looked at him expectantly.

The No. 4 position—anyone with even a basic understanding of football knew how crucial it was.

Simply put, when a No. 4 pushed forward, he contributed to build-up play and distribution; when he dropped back, he could act as a center-back; and when positioned as a defensive midfielder, he became a shield in front of the backline.

It wasn't a role just anyone could play well.

More importantly, this was the Premier League.

If you wanted to be a No. 4 in the Premier League, exceptional physicality was a must.

Take Busquets, for example—Gao Shen seriously doubted how he would fare in England. He could already imagine him hitting the ground every game, covering his face while peeking through his fingers.

Thiago Motta was truly an outstanding No. 4, arguably the best one Gao Shen could think of. He was more suitable than Yaya Touré, Busquets, Xabi Alonso, or anyone else.

But…

"He wants to go back to Barcelona," Gao Shen said helplessly.

Sometimes, he felt this was what being a "top club" really meant.

Piqué, Fàbregas, Thiago Motta—one after another, Barcelona academy graduates who, no matter how successful they were elsewhere, always longed to return.

And it wasn't just Barcelona.

If you asked Callejón and Parejo at Napoli whether they wanted to go back to Real Madrid, their answer would be a resounding yes.

"This is a problem," Carlo said with a frown. "If Thiago Motta returns to Barcelona, what do we do about the No. 4 role? Who do we bring in?"

"What about Mascherano from Liverpool?" Brian Kidd suggested. "He's a solid defensive midfielder. While he's known for his tackling and aggression, his passing is decent, and he has some playmaking ability."

Mascherano's market value was already at €25 million. If they wanted to pry him away from Liverpool, they'd likely have to pay at least €40 million. Otherwise, Benítez wouldn't even consider it—especially since Liverpool had just let Xabi Alonso go and replaced him with Biglia. There was no way Benítez would let Mascherano leave as well.

"So it's unlikely," Carlo concluded. "And he's a bit short, which could be a problem if we need him to play as a center-back."

The No. 4 role offered the flexibility to function as both a defensive midfielder and a central defender. That versatility was crucial.

When both full-backs pushed forward, the No. 4 would drop into the backline, essentially forming a three-man defense.

"Right now, there are very few top-quality defensive midfielders in Europe who also excel in passing," Brian Kidd admitted. "That's why Barcelona is willing to pay so much for Thiago Motta."

"What about Yaya Touré?" Carlo proposed.

Hearing this, Lucas laughed. "He's our Plan C."

"What do you mean?" Carlo was puzzled.

If Thiago Motta was Plan A, and Yaya Touré was Plan C… then who was Plan B?

"Yaya Touré's situation is complicated," Gao Shen explained. "His role at Barcelona is already uncertain, and with Thiago Motta returning, his playing time will only decrease. He may even be forced out."

He paused before continuing, "But the Ivorian midfielder is proud. His playing style is more suited to a double-pivot midfield than a pure No. 4 role. Of course, he could play as a No. 4, but…"

Gao Shen smiled. "If we approach him directly, he won't be too eager to listen."

Everyone immediately understood.

Gao Shen's plan was to let Yaya Touré reach out to Manchester City himself.

If he wanted to leave Barcelona, his agent would start shopping him around. And in Europe, there were only a handful of clubs that could afford his transfer fee and wages. Where else could he go?

"I have a better option," Gao Shen said. "Just keep an eye on Yaya Touré's situation." He looked at Lucas for confirmation.

Brian Kidd, Ma Wood, and the others—who were working with Gao Shen for the first time—were genuinely curious.

A better option than Yaya Touré?

Who could it be?

But Gao Shen didn't elaborate. Instead, he shifted the conversation.

"Get in touch with Napoli immediately and finalize Rakitic. I want him in our Manchester City squad for the new season—ASAP!"

Across European football, the scramble for Napoli's players was already in full swing.

Reports suggested that Manchester United and Juventus were also targeting Rakitic. If they moved too late, someone else might swoop in.

The idea of losing a player he had personally developed without ever getting the chance to utilize him only to see him strengthen a rival was infuriating.

Mubarak, Kidd, and Wood all nodded.

"We'll handle it right away," Kidd assured him.

"How's the Neymar situation?" Gao Shen asked.

If he hadn't brought it up, no one would have mentioned it. But now that he did, Kidd and Wood's expressions changed.

"We contacted Santos first," Kidd explained. "As soon as they heard we were interested, they immediately welcomed the idea. But then we spoke to Neymar's father, guess what price he asked for?" He shook his head in frustration.

Gao Shen had already mentally prepared himself. "How much?"

"€20 million, as a signing bonus. And on top of that, he wants us to agree to a whole list of conditions, including guarantees on Neymar's role in the squad, a detailed development plan, and 30% of any future transfer fee."

"Is he insane?" Lucas was stunned.

Gao Shen shot him a glance, signaling him to stay calm. Then he nodded. "Not surprising. He's always been like this."

Kidd and the others looked at him in surprise.

"You know him?"

"I don't know him personally, but I've heard about him." Gao Shen quickly covered up.

He couldn't exactly explain that, in another timeline, Neymar's father had played Barcelona and Real Madrid against each other, causing chaos that led to legal trouble for Barcelona's president.

When Neymar joined Barcelona, everyone assumed he had gotten what he wanted and would now focus on playing for one of the world's biggest clubs.

But then he turned around and moved to Paris Saint-Germain—for a staggering €220 million, the highest transfer fee in history. An absolutely insane number.

Right now, Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid for nearly €100 million already seemed outrageous.

If Gao Shen told people that in eight years, Neymar would move to Ligue 1 for an astronomical €220 million, they would be utterly shocked.

It wasn't just the price—it was the fact that he left for Ligue 1.

In the end, Neymar made a fortune but sacrificed his career.

People are like that sometimes, you can't have everything.

If you choose money, you have to accept the price that comes with it.

The funniest part? Many people, after making their money, start chasing after the things they once gave up.

Gao Shen didn't know if Neymar would regret choosing PSG, but he was certain that from the moment he made that decision, countless fans who admired him would feel disappointed.

He could have aimed higher but he gave it all up.

"It's fine. I was prepared for this. If Neymar doesn't come, it's his loss," Gao Shen said with a relaxed smile.

He never relied on just one plan. He always made sure to have a backup, sometimes even double insurance.

What else could you expect from a picky Virgo?

…

Five key players—Valencia, Santacroce, Di María, Biglia, and Thiago Motta—had all left Napoli, bringing in massive transfer fees but also sparking concern from fans and media.

Under intense pressure, club owner De Laurentiis and sporting director Marino personally announced Napoli's stadium renovation plans. They promised a significant investment to upgrade the San Paolo Stadium, which would substantially boost matchday revenue.

At the same time, Napoli officially confirmed a contract renewal with Cavani.

With Di María and Sánchez gone, two-thirds of their attacking trident keeping Cavani was essential.

Even after these departures, Napoli's forward line remained strong.

With Cavani, Callejón, Pellè, Mertens, and the young Insigne, they still had plenty of firepower up front.

Their midfield was just as impressive. Even after losing Biglia and Thiago Motta, they still had Vidal, Hamsík, Nainggolan, Parejo, and Pastore not to mention the rising star Verratti.

That's when people started to realize: Gao Shen had truly left a treasure trove for Napoli.

They had sold players for €165 million, yet the team was still incredibly competitive.

Just as everyone was marveling at this, Gazzetta dello Sport broke a major story.

Manchester City's technical director Brian Kidd and chairman's advisor had personally traveled to Naples for negotiations. In the end, they successfully signed two of Gao Shen's handpicked targets from Napoli.

Rakitic and David Luiz both joined Manchester City for a combined fee of €80 million, each costing €40 million.

A huge investment.

The report also revealed that a key reason behind their transfers was Gao Shen's imminent appointment at Manchester City. Both players wanted to continue working under their trusted mentor in the Premier League.

With these two additional sales, Napoli's transfer revenue skyrocketed to an eye-watering €245 million—an absolutely staggering figure.

All of Italy, and even the whole of Europe, was stunned by Napoli's record-breaking sales.

But what was even more shocking was that, despite selling so many key players, the team still remained highly competitive. That was the biggest surprise of all.

After arriving in England, Gao Shen first made a discreet visit to Manchester.

He inspected Manchester City's Carrington training base and the City of Manchester Stadium, offering his own recommendations for upgrades and renovations.

Then, accompanied by Brian Kidd and Lucas, he left England.

Their first stop?

France.

***

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Just hope this isn't a one time thing lol.

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