Starting With Real Madrid

After finishing their barbecue, Gao Shen and Zidane left the restaurant, visibly satisfied.

Men are simple creatures—give them good food, and they'll walk away content.

Inside the private dining room, Florentino Pérez leaned back in his chair, legs stretched out and eyes closed. His hands were clasped in front of his chest, thumbs absentmindedly moving back and forth. He appeared to be deep in thought.

"Does he have any concerns?" Valdano asked, breaking the silence.

It was clear Florentino had been giving Gao Shen a chance during their meal. He had subtly tested the young coach to see what he was thinking, yet Gao Shen had revealed absolutely nothing. Not even the faintest hint of interest.

Was Gao Shen truly uninterested in returning to Real Madrid?

That didn't seem likely.

After all, just yesterday, in his pre-match press conference in Naples, Gao Shen had openly said that Real Madrid would always hold a special place in his heart.

What clearer signal could there be?

Those words had left many Real Madrid fans brimming with hope.

Without opening his eyes, Florentino smiled faintly. "He's worried about me."

"You?" Valdano and Redondo exchanged puzzled glances.

Instead of answering directly, Florentino asked, "Why did he reject Juventus and choose Napoli?"

Anyone familiar with Gao Shen knew the answer to this: Juventus' sporting director, Alessio Secco, had refused to give him full control over transfers and other competitive decisions. In frustration, Gao Shen had turned to Napoli, where he was given the authority he wanted.

If Gao Shen were to consider returning to Real Madrid, control over transfers and team affairs would be a major factor.

Could Florentino offer that?

The more ambitious and hands-on Florentino appeared, the more concerns Gao Shen would have.

Valdano finally understood.

Gao Shen was no longer the 25-year-old who had first taken charge of Real Madrid. At 28, he was the hottest coach in European football, perhaps even the world. He had achieved extraordinary success at a record-setting age.

This put Gao Shen in a unique position. If most managers began their careers around the age of 40, Gao Shen essentially had a 15-year head start. He had already cemented his place in football history as the youngest manager to win both a domestic league and the Champions League.

Fame, wealth, and status—Gao Shen had it all. So why would he risk that by stepping into the chaos of Real Madrid?

In other words, what was in it for him?

When Gao Shen left Real Madrid after winning the double, he departed at the top. As things stood, even if he never returned, Real Madrid fans would always remember him fondly, yearning for his comeback.

But if he returned and things didn't work out, that idyllic memory would shatter.

More importantly, Gao Shen lacked confidence in the club's structure. What if Florentino continued to impose players on him, flooding the team with superstars, as he had done during the first Galáctico era?

Few people understood the inner workings of the original Galáctico project better than Gao Shen.

The real question was whether Florentino would relinquish that kind of control.

For now, the answer seemed to be no.

Florentino was planning a grand comeback, aiming to rebuild Real Madrid by signing the biggest stars in world football. He wanted to assemble a second Galáctico era in record time. Delegating control over transfers was simply not part of his plan.

"He's an incredibly smart man," Florentino said with a wry smile. "Sometimes, I think he's less of a coach and more like one of my senior executives, always calculating, always careful in how he speaks to me."

It was clear that Florentino admired Gao Shen deeply. His respect for the young coach had only grown since the double-winning season, and he now regarded Gao Shen as one of football's sharpest minds.

But admiration alone wasn't enough to bridge the gap between them.

Neither Florentino nor Gao Shen seemed willing to compromise, at least not in the short term.

---

On the way back to the hotel, Zidane couldn't help but voice his curiosity.

"Why didn't you just continue the conversation with Florentino?" he asked.

It was obvious to everyone at the table that Florentino had been extending an olive branch. If Gao Shen had shown interest, the path forward was clear: Florentino would secure his return as Real Madrid's president, and Gao Shen would become the head coach.

This was no secret. Valdano was already slated to return as technical director, Redondo was expected to join the board, and other key figures like vice president Tapias were in line to support Florentino.

All they were missing was a coach to lead the team.

Gao Shen turned to Zidane and gave him a knowing look.

"Do you think I'm short on coaching opportunities?" he asked in response.

Zidane shook his head. "Of course not."

"I've already decided to leave Napoli at the end of this season. That news isn't public yet, but when it gets out, do you know how many clubs will come calling? Do you think I need to worry about finding a job?"

Zidane thought about it and realized he had no answer.

"If Real Madrid wants me to come back, it has to be on my terms," Gao Shen continued. "When I coached Real Madrid the first time, Valdano, Sacchi, and Ancelotti all taught me the same lesson: if you want to succeed as a coach, you need the full backing of the club's management. You have to be the team's one and only leader."

Zidane listened intently, his expression serious.

"In the teams I coach, there can only be one core, and that core is me. Not a player. Not the president. Me."

Zidane nodded as he thought back to Gao Shen's time at Real Madrid. Back then, the team had improved not only because Gao Shen dealt with the problematic Brazilian clique, but because he became the team's backbone.

It was Gao Shen's leadership that united the locker room and gave the team a clear sense of direction.

This was even more apparent at Napoli, where every decision ran through Gao Shen. It was his team in every sense of the word.

"So, what happened with Florentino tonight wasn't just a discussion about transfers," Zidane said thoughtfully.

"Exactly," Gao Shen replied. "It was about control. If I ever return to Real Madrid, I want to be the undisputed boss. Even if Florentino signs Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, or Messi, I need to have the power to sell them if I think it's best for the team."

Zidane's eyes widened in realization.

"You want to be Real Madrid's Ferguson."

Gao Shen smiled. "That's right."

But Florentino wasn't ready to give up that kind of control, at least, not yet.

And Gao Shen didn't feel any regret about missing the chance to coach the second Galáctico era. In fact, he saw it as a blessing.

"You don't value things that fall into your lap," Gao Shen said with a shrug. "If Florentino really wants me, he'll come to me. Until then, I'll wait."

While Gao Shen and Zidane were heading back to their hotel, just a few blocks away at the Bernabéu, Real Madrid president Ramón Calderón and sporting director Predrag Mijatović were holding an urgent meeting.

Florentino's dinner with Gao Shen had shaken them both.

"Are you sure Florentino met with Gao Shen?" Mijatović asked, his tone anxious.

"It's confirmed," Calderón replied grimly. "He brought Zidane, and Valdano and Redondo were there too."

Mijatović scoffed. He didn't need to be told what that meeting was about.

"Florentino wants Gao Shen to coach Real Madrid," he muttered.

Calderón nodded. "Exactly. And with the mess we've made these past few seasons, the fans will welcome him with open arms."

The mere thought of Florentino and Gao Shen joining forces was enough to send a chill down their spines. If Florentino returned as president with Gao Shen as coach, it would spell the end for them.

"This isn't just about tonight's match," Calderón said firmly. "This is the first real battle between us and Florentino. We can't lose."

"If we beat Gao Shen tonight or better yet, humiliate him—his influence will take a massive hit," Mijatović added, his tone turning ruthless. "And without him, Florentino won't be nearly as threatening."

The two men exchanged a grim nod.

"I'll talk to Schuster," Mijatović said, rising from his chair. "No matter what happens, we can't let Gao Shen walk away from this unscathed."

Calderón didn't say anything as he watched Mijatović leave. But the worry on his face remained.

Gao Shen's reputation loomed large.