Starting With Real Madrid

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With the brewing of the Calciopoli scandal, Juventus, at the center of this storm, became the focus of worldwide attention. In an effort to mitigate the negative impact on the club as soon as possible, the Fiat Group the powerful consortium backing Juventus made swift decisions. Chairman Stevens, General Manager Luciano Moggi, Vice Chairman Roberto Bettega, and CEO Antonio Giraudo were all forced to step down. 

The top tier of the Bianconeri's management was completely purged, and the entire leadership team was dismantled and rebuilt from the ground up.

Following a shareholders' vote, the owner of a major supermarket chain, Giovanni Cobolli Gigli, was elected as the new chairman of Juventus. Jean-Claude Blanc, a former editor of L'Equipe who had been involved with the Tour de France Organizing Committee, was appointed as the new general manager. Alessio Secco, the club's former press officer, became the sporting director.

Gigli, Blanc, and Secco quickly emerged as the new "Three Giants" of Juventus following the reorganization, taking over the reins of the club.

While the whole world believed that this sudden telephone scandal had caught Serie A and Juventus off guard, only those within the organization knew that this storm had been secretly brewing for many years.

Blanc, in particular, was acutely aware of this fact.

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As everyone knows, the true control of Juventus rests with the Fiat consortium, and the Agnelli family is its major shareholder. But in 2003 and 2004, the deaths of brothers Gianni Agnelli and Umberto Agnelli caused significant turmoil within the Fiat consortium. As a result, John Elkann and Ferrari CEO Luca di Montezemolo took over as the new leaders of the consortium.

One winter night in 2004, John Elkann met Jean-Claude Blanc in Paris, France, and formally invited him to join the management team at Juventus. At the time, Blanc was surprised.

"You already have Moggi and Giraudo, who have both achieved outstanding success. Why do you need me?" Blanc had asked.

He clearly remembered John Elkann's response: "No, we're looking to get them out."

At first, Blanc thought this was merely a power struggle within Juventus—a fairly common occurrence among elite clubs. He joined Juventus management, prepared to take over the Bianconeri whenever necessary.

But gradually, he realized that the situation was far more complicated.

It wasn't until recently, when the scandal could no longer be kept under wraps, that John Elkann informed him that back in 2004, he had received inside information from government sources about impending investigations into Moggi and Giraudo's violations.

After two years of careful preparation, the world was finally hit by the bombshell that was the 2006 Calciopoli scandal.

The Old Guard of Juventus fell, and the New Guard emerged.

John Elkann's plan had largely succeeded, but there were unexpected deviations.

For example, he had promised Blanc the position of chairman at Juventus, but instead, Gigli from a supermarket chain had taken that role.

Additionally, the possibility of Juventus being relegated was not something they had anticipated.

More crucially, the new head of the Fiat consortium, Montezemolo, had instructed Juventus to abandon any appeals, accept the penalties, and focus on damage control to minimize the losses for the consortium.

But regardless of the circumstances, the first task facing the new Juventus leadership trio was figuring out how to clean up this mess.

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Meetings had become a daily occurrence at Juventus since the Calciopoli scandal broke out. There were small meetings every three days and larger ones every five days.

The club's administration was in complete disarray, constantly undergoing reorganization, while the football team itself was mired in even more turmoil. 

Many people, including head coach Fabio Capello, made it clear that they would not follow the team to Serie B. They were top-tier professionals, world-class stars, and renowned coaches. After such a heavy blow, would they be able to make a comeback?  

In such a situation, only the players who truly loved the club would choose to stay.  

It was rumored that Capello was already very close to Real Madrid presidential candidate Ramón Calderón. Everyone knew that Calderón was now a strong contender for the presidency, as the current president, Fernando Martín, had been completely abandoned by Real Madrid fans.  

Calderón's running mate, Predrag Mijatović, had been Capello's favorite player when he coached at Real Madrid. If Calderón were elected, his first action would undoubtedly be to bring Capello to the Bernabéu, fulfilling all the fans' demands.  

Real Madrid fans, didn't you appreciate Gao Shen?  

You say Gao Shen is a version 2.0 of Capello? Fine, I will bring the original Capello!  

If Capello were to leave, who would dare to take over Juventus, a club relegated to Serie B?  

Over the past few weeks, Blanc and Secco had contacted numerous high-profile coaches, but all had declined, politely or otherwise.  

No one wanted to get involved in Juventus's troubled waters at this time.  

Initially, they sought candidates worthy of a giant club, but they were disappointed. Gradually, they lowered their requirements, but still failed to find a suitable coach. When candidates heard it was Juventus, they invariably declined politely.  

Even when Blanc used his personal connections to reach out to Didier Deschamps, a former Juventus legend, the Frenchman hesitated, saying he needed to think more before going silent.  

Clearly, no one wanted to take the risk.  

After continuous narrowing down, reducing candidates, and exhausting all other options, they finally focused on one rather surprising name: Gao Shen!  

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"I don't think he's a suitable candidate," Secco was the first to object.  

Blanc wasn't surprised; in fact, this was within his expectations. "Tell me why," he asked.  

"I don't deny that he's the hottest manager this summer. He led Real Madrid to a double, and his results are truly impressive. But, as far as I know, his demands are also among the most stringent. He even wants to be involved in the club's transfer dealings and contract renewals," Secco replied.  

After a brief pause, Secco asked Blanc, "Do you think it's appropriate for a young man of only twenty-five years to have so much power? Even if we both think it's fine, what about the higher-ups?"  

As he spoke, Secco pointed upward, referring to the Fiat consortium.  

"From his tenure at Real Madrid, he's proven to be a very thoughtful, philosophical man, young and full of energy. His tactical ideas have even been unanimously praised by Sacchi, Valdano, Beckenbauer, Platini, and others," Blanc argued.  

"I asked Zidane to find out more about him, and Zidane had nothing but praise for Gao Shen. He believes that Gao Shen doesn't act like a twenty-five-year-old; his conduct is very mature, stable, and balanced."  

"Trust me, Alessio, if he can manage Real Madrid's locker room, he can manage the locker room of any team in the world. And as for his technical and tactical level, the La Liga and Champions League titles speak for themselves."  

"Of course, I admit you're right," Secco nodded but then shifted his tone. "However, this doesn't mean we have to give him authority over transfers and contract negotiations."  

Blanc nodded. "That part is negotiable. He doesn't want to be fully responsible for transfers or contract renewals but wants a say. He wants the club to bring in the players he desires. I think this is reasonable."  

Secco scoffed. "I don't see it that way. If it were Marcello Lippi, I would have no problem, but Gao Shen? He is not qualified!"  

With that, Secco stood up and walked out of the room.  

Blanc watched him leave, sighing inwardly.  

He wasn't surprised by Secco's firm opposition. After all, Secco was the sporting director.  

Everyone knew that Chairman Cobolli Gigli was mostly a figurehead; General Manager Blanc was in charge of the club's operations and competitive matters, while the sporting director was responsible for more specific football-related tasks, such as transfer dealings, negotiations, and player contract renewals all responsibilities that fell under Secco's purview.  

If they agreed to Gao Shen's demands, wouldn't that weaken Secco's power?  

Moreover, Secco's argument was valid. Gao Shen had never had such authority before.  

Who could guarantee there wouldn't be any issues?  

Even if they only gave him advisory power, with the club handling the specific operations, who could ensure the players he recommended would succeed? And what if there were hidden agendas?  

The bung gate scandal in the Premier League had served as a warning to all clubs across all leagues.  

But Blanc still wanted to meet Gao Shen.  

Whether it was from his former colleagues at L'Equipe, or from French friends like Zidane and Platini, or from respected figures like Sacchi, Capello, and others everyone spoke highly of Gao Shen.

Blanc had heard that Gao Shen was in contact with many teams, but most of those discussions remained tentative, with clubs wary of his demands for control over team-building and transfer policy.

However, Blanc knew that Gao Shen had made his stance very clear: he was not willing to compromise on his requirements.

Gao Shen wanted to build a team according to his own vision, not simply act as a caretaker for someone else's ambitions.

Blanc felt that meeting Gao Shen in person was necessary to truly understand if he was worth the risk that Juventus might take a risk that could either help the club rise from the ashes or further complicate its future.

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 Meanwhile, in Southern Italy, Naples...

In a quieter part of the country, far from the chaos in Turin, a different kind of hope was rising.

A small crowd of local journalists gathered at the newly renovated headquarters of S.S.C. Napoli, eager to witness the modest but momentous occasion.

After a brief unveiling ceremony, Aurelio De Laurentiis, the club's passionate chairman, stood proudly in front of the newly displayed sign. For the past two years, it had only read "Napoli Soccer," the stripped-down name for a team that had been mired in the lower leagues. But now, the sign finally bore the club's full, historic name once again: Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli.

De Laurentiis could hardly contain his excitement.

"It took us two years, but we have finally reclaimed our identity!" he declared to the small crowd. "We are no longer just Napoli Soccer. We are S.S.C. Napoli once again a name that has been synonymous with passion, grit, and the beautiful game in Italy and around the world!"

Napoli's recent history had been turbulent, to say the least. The club had been relegated from Serie A in 2001, and by 2004, it declared bankruptcy, buried under debts totaling 70 million euros. The club was forcibly relegated to Serie C, the third tier of Italian football.

Almost everything the club owned was seized by the government and put up for auction, from stadium equipment to office furniture. Napoli was stripped of its assets, its status, and, most painfully, its dignity.

But Aurelio De Laurentiis, a renowned film producer with deep roots in Naples, stepped in to buy the club, promising to bring it back to its former glory. In two years, he led the team from Serie C to Serie B, giving hope back to a city that had not seen its beloved team in the top flight for half a decade.

Now, standing before the sign that read "S.S.C. Napoli," De Laurentiis felt a surge of pride.  

"We have worked hard for this day," he continued, addressing the reporters and fans present. "The name, the spirit, and the pride of Napoli are back where they belong. But this is just the beginning."

The chairman's ambitious goals were clear: he wanted Napoli to become a powerhouse again, not just in Italy but in Europe.

"Naples deserves a fresh, hopeful start!" he shouted, almost like a battle cry. "I want the name of Napoli to echo through Italy, Europe, and the entire football world!"

The small crowd erupted in cheers.

But De Laurentiis knew that talk alone wouldn't bring success. Actions would.

Now, with Napoli back in Serie B and the new season approaching, the next step was to find the right person to guide the team forward someone who could rebuild the squad, inspire the players, and restore Napoli to its former glory.