Starting With Real Madrid

The 2007-08 Serie A season finally came to an end.

Some celebrated, while others mourned.

Napoli, as a newly-promoted team, miraculously claimed the Serie A title and became a global sensation.

With this victory, head coach Gao Shen once again entered the spotlight of football fans around the world.

UEFA published a special report, emphasizing that Gao Shen had used this miraculous Serie A triumph to prove his coaching prowess to the world, showing that Real Madrid's double championship under his tenure was no fluke.

"At just twenty-seven years old, Gao Shen has already established himself as one of Europe's most promising young managers."

This statement was effectively UEFA's official endorsement of Gao Shen.

From Italy to Europe and even globally, media outlets and fans began reassessing their opinions of Gao Shen.

Leading outlets, including L'Equipe, Bild, and Kicker Magazine, praised him highly, acknowledging that leading Napoli to this extraordinary championship was irrefutable proof of his abilities.

What stood out even more was the attacking style of football and the dominance Napoli displayed on the pitch under Gao Shen's leadership.

Kicker Magazine went so far as to declare, "Gao Shen and his Napoli have been the most astonishing team in European football this season!"

Gazzetta dello Sport also gave a glowing evaluation, proclaiming, "This is a meticulously crafted team that has the potential to shake up European football!"

With this, media and fans alike began eagerly anticipating next season's Champions League, anxious to see if Napoli could replicate their success on Europe's grandest stage.

Would this team hold up under the scrutiny of the Champions League?

…

While the world heaped praise on Napoli, the Serie A season's best selections were announced, with the most anticipated reveal being the Serie A Team of the Season.

The Best Coach of the Season? There was no contest. Gao Shen won the honor without any suspense.

Even the media and fans agreed that Gao Shen was already a lock for the Serie A Manager of the Year award at the following season's awards ceremony.

This recognition was a clear testament to how Gao Shen, through this championship, had fully won over Italy, the homeland of tactical football.

For the goalkeeper position in the Team of the Season, there were three main contenders: Napoli's Handanovic, Inter's Julio Cesar, and Juventus' Gianluigi Buffon.

All three delivered exceptional performances. Handanovic's inclusion stemmed from his pivotal role at Napoli, where he introduced a style of goalkeeping novel to Italian football. He led Serie A goalkeepers in passes, pass success rate, and overall participation in the game.

From Gao Shen's perspective, while Handanovic still had a significant gap to bridge before reaching the level of a future Neuer, he had already performed remarkably well by current standards. Above all, he was consistent.

Buffon, on the other hand, also stood out.

As Sacchi noted in his column, "With Buffon guarding the net, Juventus effectively concedes ten fewer goals a season."

Such remarks speak volumes about Buffon's value.

Ultimately, however, the award went to Julio Cesar.

Inter Milan's defensive line was heavily stretched this season, which ironically gave Cesar more opportunities to shine.

The defensive line for the Team of the Season featured Vargas, David Luiz, Panucci, and Maicon.

Napoli had two representatives: Vargas and David Luiz.

Vargas, as Napoli's left-back, had solidified his status as Serie A's best in that position, with no real challengers.

David Luiz's inclusion stemmed from his noticeable growth throughout the season. After Napoli's crucial away draw against Inter Milan, the Brazilian defender showed marked improvement. Although he still had moments of recklessness, his progress was undeniable.

More importantly, under the tutelage of Serie A's defensive philosophy, David Luiz had sharpened his overall tactical awareness and defensive skills significantly.

Panucci, an iconic player for Roma, earned his spot, while Maicon was the undisputed choice for right-back.

Lichtsteiner, although promising, was still a step behind Maicon.

The midfield trio included Biglia, Cambiasso, and Hamsik.

Cambiasso's selection was uncontroversial, as he was Inter Milan's standout player. Some even attributed Inter's second-half struggles to Cambiasso's injury.

Hamsik, Napoli's midfield gem, was another easy choice.

Biglia, one of Napoli's central midfielders, had a commendable season, but Sampdoria's Maggio was a strong rival for the spot.

Maggio, a right-sided dynamo for Sampdoria, had performed spectacularly this season, showcasing his ability to single-handedly dominate the right flank.

Ultimately, Biglia secured the spot in the Team of the Season for his consistent and integral role in Napoli's midfield.

The forward trio comprised Mutu, Del Piero, and Cavani.

Mutu dazzled in Fiorentina, while Del Piero and Cavani ranked first and second in the Serie A scoring charts, making their selections indisputable.

Cavani, with his stellar performances and imposing physical presence, not only dominated Serie A but also caught the attention of several European giants.

Though Di Maria and Sanchez were also brilliant under Gao Shen's system, Mutu and Del Piero were simply too impactful to overlook based on their statistics.

Napoli's domination was evident, with the team claiming five spots in the 11-man Team of the Season. It was a reflection of the strength and merit of this newly-promoted side that went on to win the league title.

This championship was nothing short of deserved.

…

After the final round of Serie A, Gao Shen allowed the team an extra day of rest after their recovery session.

The Coppa Italia final, scheduled for May 24th, later than the Champions League final meant that Napoli had a full week to prepare after the Serie A conclusion. This provided ample time for adjustments and preparation.

However, one crucial task couldn't wait, summer transfers.

Back during the winter break, Gao Shen had made it clear that he wanted to bring in Maggio from Sampdoria.

Unfortunately, Sampdoria refused to even enter negotiations with Napoli at the time.

Now, the need for a high-caliber right-back had become urgent.

While the players rested, Gao Shen met with club president De Laurentiis and sporting director Marino at the club's headquarters to discuss summer plans. During the meeting, Gao Shen made it clear that Georgie Garics was no longer part of his plans.

"I need a top-level right-back, like Maggio," Gao Shen emphasized.

"Next season, we'll be competing on three fronts. The physical demands on our full-backs will be immense, so I need a high-quality player to rotate with Lichtsteiner. Maggio is the ideal candidate."

This was Gao Shen's third time pushing for Maggio.

The club had agreed to pursue him twice before but had failed to secure the deal.

"Each position needs two top-tier players. That's my requirement," Gao Shen reiterated.

De Laurentiis nodded and turned to Marino, who appeared slightly hesitant.

"Maggio won't come cheap now," Marino admitted. "At this point, he'll cost at least seven or eight million euros."

Napoli had missed a golden opportunity to secure Maggio during the winter window when his market value was much lower. After a stellar season, Maggio's reputation had soared, driving up his price.

Seven or eight million euros was a substantial sum for Napoli, even as Serie A champions.

The reality was that Napoli didn't have much financial leeway. Most of their anticipated Champions League revenue was still months away from materializing, meaning De Laurentiis would have to dip into his own funds to finance the transfer.

Complicating matters further was the looming pressure of contract renewals.

The club was working hard to extend Gao Shen's contract, which was a top priority. There were also key players whose contracts needed to be renewed, all of which would require significant financial resources.

De Laurentiis had previously suggested selling players to ease the financial burden. For example, selling Gervinho the previous season had helped stabilize the club's finances. Another sale this summer could provide a similar boost.

However, Marino hesitated to broach this subject with Gao Shen, sensing that the timing wasn't right.

In truth, despite winning the Serie A title and securing Champions League football, some players were still dissatisfied with their roles.

For instance, Georgie Garics and Domic were both keen to leave. Neither had seen much playing time, with Domic, in particular, becoming increasingly frustrated.

"To be honest, Domic doesn't fit my requirements," Gao Shen explained. "If we receive a suitable offer, he can be sold for at least four or five million euros. As for Georgie Garics, he should fetch two to three million."

As the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats.

Napoli's success had boosted the market value of even their fringe players.

"Selling Garics to fund Maggio's transfer makes sense, but if you sell Domic as well, we'll only have three center-backs left, plus Cannavaro as a substitute. Is that enough?" Marino asked, visibly concerned.

Over the past season, Gao Shen had consistently backed the partnership of Bonucci and David Luiz, which had performed admirably. Cannavaro, meanwhile, had transitioned into a backup role. But relying on just one substitute center-back seemed risky.

"I already have a target in mind," Gao Shen assured them. "We might not even need to pay a transfer fee. The money from selling Domic and Garics should be enough to secure Maggio. Trust me—it'll work."

Serie A's financial realities meant that player valuations were far lower compared to the Premier League or La Liga. A player like Maggio would command a fortune in England, but in Italy, seven or eight million euros was a significant offer that would likely tempt Sampdoria.

"Seal the deal for Maggio as quickly as possible. We can't afford to let other teams beat us to him. I'm confident he'll be interested in playing Champions League football with us. If necessary, I'll personally give him a call," Gao Shen said decisively.

His confidence in Maggio's ability to strengthen the squad was evident.

As for the center-back position, Gao Shen had already identified a suitable candidate who wouldn't require a significant financial outlay.

***

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