Starting With Real Madrid

Gao Shen still clearly remembers when he was in junior high school, a female classmate wrote in her essay: "Between people, it is a relationship of using and being used."

When the Chinese teacher, who was also the class teacher, read this essay, she was shocked and felt that the female classmate had seen through the world too thoroughly, which wasn't a good thing.

It was the late nineties.

At the time, Gao Shen didn't agree with that statement. Like most of his classmates, he felt that this kind of thinking was terrifying.

But later, after leaving school and entering society, he started to realize that, in fact, the female classmate was right.

Now, he has discovered that the whole world is like this.

China is a society based on personal relationships, and European and American countries are networks based on social relationships. In essence, they are the same thing.

Just like how Secco could be Juventus' sporting director.

Talking about using and being used doesn't sound pleasant, literally. It should be called an exchange of interests.

In the workplace, the so-called network is actually an exchange of interests, which is the strongest relationship in the workplace.

…

De Laurentiis is like a businessman with the word "shrewd" written all over his forehead.

This doesn't mean he is stingy. On the contrary, he will spend money and is willing to do so, but he is always focused on the return on investment.

Including his earnest effort this time to hire Gao Shen to coach in Naples. To put it plainly, it's because Gao Shen is hot right now. He is a double champion coach, a young coach highly regarded by Sacchi, Valdano, and others. His football philosophy is very advanced, and the consecutive defeats of AC Milan and Juventus in the Champions League are the best proof.

But at the same time, De Laurentiis has to pay a corresponding price in exchange.

Although it was only their third meeting, Gao Shen felt that De Laurentiis and Martin were not the same kind of person. He looked rough, but in fact, he had a very shrewd plan in his heart. He always knew what he wanted, what he could do, and what he couldn't do. He was clear about it.

Working with such a person may not last long, but at least you don't have to worry about him holding you back.

Of course, don't expect this kind of person to have any feelings for you. Once you drag him down, he will fire you immediately.

This is a very realistic, but also very strong partnership.

From one of De Laurentiis' proposed clauses, Gao Shen could understand the Naples boss's positioning of the team.

He hopes that the high salary package could include a penalty mechanism.

What does that mean?

Currently, most head coach salaries consist of an annual salary plus bonuses, according to the contract, both of which can fluctuate based on performance.

But the big boss in Naples is not going the usual route; he wants to add one more thing.

That is a fine.

Not for results, but for transfer signings.

According to De Laurentiis, he is willing to grant Gao Shen transfer rights, but he will evaluate the value of the players brought in by Gao Shen each season. If the player's value doesn't appreciate, and the difference between the player's value and the transfer price reaches a certain level, he will fine Gao Shen to compensate for the club's loss.

As for evaluating a player's worth, there are already many institutions in European football that specialize in this, but most of them are paid services and are more rigorous, with generally little deviation.

Of course, this is a valuation assessment, which is different from the transfer price, which purely depends on market supply and demand and player contracts.

De Laurentiis' logic is that he is willing to invest money in the team to operate the transfers according to Gao Shen's wishes, and he is also willing to grant Gao Shen transfer rights, but he wants to see the returns, so he hopes the players Gao Shen buys can appreciate.

For players to appreciate in value, the team's performance must be good, and the players' performances must be outstanding. Gao Shen must be careful when choosing and managing players.

Everyone knows that transfers in European football are very risky. If De Laurentiis wants to give Gao Shen partial transfer rights, he will naturally limit them. Now, he is very cleverly using a fine to limit Gao Shen.

Want to avoid fines?

Yes, the players' value must rise.

When players are worth more, the team has good results, the players perform well, and selling them can also bring profits. At the same time, this can limit Gao Shen's transfer rights to prevent them from getting out of control.

On the other hand, Marino is still responsible for the specific negotiations and operations for the players that Gao Shen wants.

Through this mechanism, De Laurentiis maximizes his interests.

…

When Gao Shen saw this clause, he really didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Should he marvel at De Laurentiis' imagination? Or criticize him as a stingy capitalist?

If the same contract were given to other head coaches, it's likely that no one would dare to sign it, or they would give up the transfer rights, because the risk is too high.

Who can guarantee that the players they bring in will perform well? Or are sure to be talented?

But unfortunately, Gao Shen has no concerns in this regard.

However, he still frowned, looking very troubled.

"This is the first time I've seen such a clause; I…" Gao Shen shook his head with a "wry smile," as if to say, how could I possibly sign a contract like this?

When De Laurentiis saw Gao Shen's expression, a hint of cunning flashed in his eyes, but his face showed a look of helplessness.

"Gao, I hope you understand. Actually, I don't want to do this either. Although we trust you, we really have no other choice."

Gao Shen secretly laughed in his heart. Yeah, right, I totally believe you.

In fact, De Laurentiis treats running a football team as a business.

Since it is a business, he must invest money in the early stages. His positioning of Napoli has never been to be a top giant. Essentially, he still wants to run it like Udinese, buying low and selling high, so he decided on this clause.

But this is nothing to Gao Shen.

When he played FM (Football Manager), wasn't this what he always did?

"Actually, I don't oppose your terms," Gao Shen said calmly.

Both De Laurentiis and Marino were a bit surprised, but then Gao Shen changed the conversation.

"However, with rights come obligations. Since there's a penalty mechanism, there should also be a reward mechanism. If a player's value drops, I get penalized. What if the player's value rises?"

De Laurentiis and Marino looked at each other.

Isn't that reasonable?

The essence of a contract is reciprocity. Since there is a penalty, there must also be a reward.

"Yes, since there is a penalty clause, there should be a reward clause as well. That makes sense. As long as a player's value increases, the club will provide additional rewards," De Laurentiis, showing some boldness, immediately agreed.

But Gao Shen still shook his head, "Additionally, I request that when a player is sold, a percentage of the difference in the transfer fee should go to me."

Since it was De Laurentiis who proposed this business arrangement, there was no need to hide his intentions.

What to say?

Following De Laurentiis' logic, Gao Shen's request isn't too much.

Oh, so if the value of the players I bring in falls, I get fined, but if it rises, I get nothing? Is that fair?

"How much do you want?" Marino pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, realizing that the young man in front of him was quite the fox.

Just like his own boss.

"Thirty percent of the difference."

"The net difference after deducting various costs and expenses?"

"Based on the contract price," Gao Shen shook his head.

If costs and expenses are deducted, then the club could manipulate things to make the net difference zero or close to zero.

Therefore, without considering these, Gao Shen insists on the transfer fee, which is based on the contract price.

"We can only offer 10% at most," De Laurentiis said.

Gao Shen shook his head, "Think about it: with the current situation in Serie A, even if Napoli are promoted to Serie A, how much can a player's value rise? What's 10% going to amount to?"

The current transfer fees are actually not that high. Even those rich clubs who spend lavishly cap their spending at 20 million euros. For mid-to-lower Serie A teams, the mainstream fees are often under 10 million, with 5 million euros considered high.

Take Calaiò, for example.

Is he useful?

He performs well in Serie C, but he was bought for 3.6 million euros. Now what?

His estimated value is at most less than two million euros.

Is it because he didn't perform well?

No, but Napoli was in Serie C before.

Even if Napoli performs well in Serie B this season and he wins the top scorer, how high can his value go?

More than five million euros? No Serie A team would buy him.

Unless he is a genius.

"But where do so many geniuses come from? If Calaiò is a genius, how did he end up playing for Napoli?"

 De Laurentiis gritted his teeth, surprised by Gao Shen's counteroffer to increase the reward clause. "At most 20%, no more." Marino smiled bitterly, thinking that his boss's efforts to limit Gao Shen's power had backfired, and they had inadvertently offered a reward mechanism.

Marino couldn't figure out what they had lost in the negotiation, but De Laurentiis calculated that if Gao Shen could lead Napoli to Serie A, he would make a lot of money. 

"Okay, but the contract lasts for three years and is signed once a year," Gao Shen said, satisfied with the 20% offer. De Laurentiis hesitated, consulted with Marino, and agreed.

From Napoli's perspective, signing Gao Shen, the young double-crowned coach, seemed like a good deal. But in reality, De Laurentiis wouldn't lose money on this contract and might even make a big profit. 

Gao Shen's ability to scout top players was a significant advantage. However, Gao Shen wouldn't pay for players signed by De Laurentiis and Marino, who were rumored to be trying to poach Paul Cannavaro, the younger brother of the renowned Cannavaro and Parma's main defender. Gao Shen was unsure if Cannavaro was suitable for the team.