Starting With Real Madrid

The place where Gao Shen and Blanc agreed to meet was in a hotel near Madrid Airport.

Juventus had two high-level officials present: general manager Jean-Claude Blanc, sporting director Alessio Secco, and one of their assistants, who was said to be a lawyer.

There were only two people on Gao Shen's side: him and Lucas.

This meeting was very formal. It was arranged in a small conference room in the hotel, and the two sides sat opposite each other. It was a formal interview.

Before this, Gao Shen and Blanc had communicated on the phone several times, and they both knew exactly what the other wanted.

Gao Shen valued Juventus as a platform. The saying goes, "a starved camel is still bigger than a horse." Even though Juventus had been relegated, the team retained its core strength. If he could coach this team, he believed he would have a strong chance of success.

Juventus, on the other hand, was interested in Gao Shen's tactical concepts. They recognized that Serie A's tactics had become outdated. They wanted to use Gao Shen's advanced methods to reform Juventus' techniques and tactics, bringing in more modern concepts.

This is the same tactical approach that helped Real Madrid win the double crown, validated by results under Benitez and backed by Gao Shen's understanding of Italian football.

However, there were differences. Gao Shen wanted to be involved in the club's transfer and contract renewal process. 

To put it simply, it was about personnel and finances.

Gao Shen did not ask for the same authority as Ferguson or Wenger because he knew that was almost impossible. 

Not even the most famous coaches in the world could easily gain the power that Ferguson and Wenger once had. Those two were exceptions, products of a special era that could not be replicated.

Even if Ferguson and Wenger were replaced, neither Manchester United nor Arsenal would give their successors the same level of control as those two legends.

All Gao Shen wanted was a solid guarantee that the club would bring in the players he wanted.

This is very important because, many times, even someone as strong as Mourinho has complained that his club did not sign the players he wanted, but instead forced unwanted ones like Shevchenko on him.

That's where the problem lies.

Sporting director Alessio Secco was more direct, "Mr. Gao, I don't mean to offend, but I'm just curious. How can you demand the club to hand over such crucial power to you when you have absolutely no experience in this area? How can we trust you?"

Secco's tone was condescending.

This kind of arrogance wasn't more of a test like De Laurentiis; it was more of a patronizing, top-down disdain.

Hearing this, not only did Gao Shen frown, but Lucas couldn't hold back his anger either.

"Mr. Secco, I understand your concerns, but what I want to say is that at Real Madrid, the players I unearthed each increased their value several times over. I believe you can acknowledge that," Gao Shen replied calmly.

"How is that the same?" Secco shook his head, laughing. "Gao, you didn't spend a penny of the club's transfer budget at Real Madrid. All the players you picked out were actually from Real Madrid's youth academy. And you know, Real Madrid's youth academy is filled with the best young talent in Spain."

"In other words, those who can make it into Real Madrid's youth academy are already very promising talents. All you did was select players who fit your tactical requirements. Whether it's the selection pool or vision, it is very different from making signings in the market."

After a pause, Secco smiled again. "It's not that I look down on you, Gao, but you really don't understand how the transfer market operates. You underestimate the intricacies of transfers."

Anyone could hear that when Secco said, "It's not that I look down on you," he actually meant, "I'm sorry, but I do look down on you."

Not only were Gao Shen and Lucas a bit angry, but even Blanc, sitting beside them, coughed twice, signaling Secco to be more respectful. After all, the person sitting across from them was the coach who had just led a team to a La Liga and Champions League double.

"I'm sorry, Gao, I tend to be more straightforward," Secco smiled dismissively.

Gao Shen kept a straight face, looking at Blanc and Secco opposite him, starting to understand his situation at Juventus.

Clearly, Blanc was interested in him, but Secco was not, and Secco was the sporting director.

Juventus was different from teams like Real Madrid. In Real Madrid, the president calls the shots, but in Juventus, responsibilities are divided among different departments.

At Real Madrid, Martin simply pointed a finger and Gao Shen was appointed the head coach. This was not the case at Juventus.

"Okay, Mr. Gao, I think we've communicated enough, and we understand each other," Secco said, closing his notes and placing his hands on the table with a smile.

"What I want to tell you is that even though Juventus has been relegated to the second division, we still retain a strong team. We are still one of the top teams in Italy. Our financials, players, and various facilities are the best in Serie A."

"In the past, our coaches such as Ancelotti, Lippi, and Capello were also the best in Italy and the world. And even now, we hope that our coaches are at this level."

Gao Shen was initially a bit angry, but now he suddenly understood.

Before the transition to the football world, when he was in the corporate world, he had encountered similar personnel scenarios many times.

To put it bluntly, Secco was here to sabotage things.

If nothing unexpected happens, he would start his show next.

After thinking this through, Gao Shen smiled slightly, looking at Secco in front of him, as if to say: Please start your show!

"Although your short-term coaching success at Real Madrid was remarkable, you never had a full season of experience. Moreover, everyone knows a key reason for your success was that you were coaching Real Madrid. If you were at any other club, your tactics might not have worked."

"So, your experience at Real Madrid doesn't guarantee your ability. Therefore, if you want to coach us at Juventus, what advantages do you think you have?"

Secco tried to sound polite, but his prejudice were clear.

He was basically asking Gao Shen, "Why should we hire you?"

Gao Shen was no longer angry. Instead, he suddenly remembered an article he had read in his previous life.

Juventus' true rise began after Andrea Agnelli from the Agnelli family took over and revamped the club's management. Before that, the Bianconeri was also a mess.

The sporting director is responsible for transfer operations and player contract renewals. Everyone knows that this is a highly profitable position.

So, why would Secco hand over power to Gao Shen after finally climbing to this position?

Cutting off someone's financial benefits is like taking away their livelihood!

Later, Deschamps resigned after leading the team back to Serie A. The key reason was Secco causing trouble for him in the transfer market, not letting him sign the players he wanted, so he left in frustration.

After realizing this, Gao Shen also chuckled.

He calmly put away the documents in front of him a thick stack that he had meticulously prepared for this interview. But now, it seemed useless.

But it didn't matter; the process of preparing the materials had also helped him sort out and improve his thoughts.

However, he did not plan to let Juventus see the fruits of his labor.

"Gao," Blanc called out, surprised when he saw Gao Shen packing up.

"It's okay, Mr. Blanc. Thank you very much for taking the time to meet me. But Mr. Secco is right; Juventus is a top club and should hire a top coach. I'm not worthy of Juventus!"

After pausing, Gao Shen looked directly at Secco and smiled confidently. "But it doesn't matter. I will find an opportunity to prove my strength. I hope it's the next time we meet, Mr. Secco."

With that, Gao Shen packed his things, took Lucas, and left without looking back.

Blanco watched Gao Shen leave, then turned to see Secco's triumphant expression. How could he not understand what had happened?

"You will regret this Alessio!" Blanc said angrily before getting up to leave as well.

Secco shrugged, unconcerned, and laughed. "I'll regret hiring him!"

In his view, Juventus is still Juventus, even in the second division.

Backed by the Fiat consortium, are they afraid they won't be able to hire a famous coach?

What a joke!

Juventus choosing a coach? There are plenty of coaches in Italian football vying for the job. Why choose a 25-year-old rookie?

And give him transfer and financial authority?

What's this? A disguised power grab?

I'm not that stupid!

---

When Gao Shen walked out of the hotel, he took a deep breath and rid himself of all the complicated emotions weighing him down.

"They were too much! So condescending!" Lucas cursed angrily.

Gao Shen looked at his friend and tried to comfort him, "That's why I told you to be mentally prepared."

"Don't worry. With your coaching ability, I'm not afraid there won't be any teams inviting you," Lucas was full of confidence.

Gao Shen was confident too. "If I get the chance, I'll make them regret it!"

"So, what now?" Lucas asked, a bit embarrassed.

Originally, they planned to have a meal together after the Juventus meeting to celebrate their cooperation. Who would have thought it would end on a sour note?

This was a minor setback.

Real Madrid's membership system has its own issues, but Juventus' management mechanism had its problems too.

"No worries. Let's find a place to eat; I'll treat you," Gao Shen said, laughing at the end.

In Gao Shen's view, Secco's obstruction was just a temporary victory for a petty person. He didn't take it to heart at all.

Even if he was angry, it was only for a moment.

With his experience in the business world, if he was still angry over such trivial matters, he would be frustrated all the time.

Of course, while he wasn't angry, he still had something to prove.

If he ever had the opportunity, he would demonstrate his capabilities in front of Secco and make him regret his arrogance!

The two of them stopped a taxi and were planning to return directly to the hotel.

But just as Gao Shen was about to get into the car, his phone suddenly rang.

Gao Shen took it out and saw the caller ID: Pierpaolo Marino.