Starting With Real Madrid

Gao Shen slowly woke up from the soft bed.

He reached for the phone on the bedside table, checked the time, and blurted out, "Oh shit!"

It was almost eight o'clock.

His first instinct was to get up immediately—he thought he was going to be late for training.

But a moment later, he collapsed back onto the bed.

The season was over.

He was still stuck in the intense and fast-paced rhythm of competition, and his body hadn't adjusted yet.

It was frustrating.

Honestly, he was still half-asleep. Otherwise, he would've realized it earlier. There was no one beside him. His wife was clearly downstairs preparing breakfast. If there had been training, she would've woken him up already.

Now that he lay there with no urgency, a sudden feeling of emptiness and loss washed over him.

It was like… after living every day under pressure for so long, suddenly relaxing left him unanchored.

That was exactly how Gao Shen felt right now.

…

Although this was the first time a team had defended the Champions League title since the tournament's reform, the post-match process was very much by the book, just like in previous years.

If anything stood out, it was that the celebrations were a little crazier, and Gao Shen was thrown even higher than usual.

Even the backroom staff got involved.

There was no point meeting with Heynckes after the match. One side had won and was overjoyed, the other had lost and was miserable. It would've been awkward to try and chat.

The media interviews were also routine. The usual pleasantries, praising his players, praising the management, offering a few consoling words to the opponent. That was about it.

The only exception came when a reporter asked whether he really would be leaving Manchester City after the Champions League final, as the rumors suggested.

Gao Shen hesitated for a moment, then said helplessly, "No comment for now."

He explained that everything was subject to the club's official statement.

By now, everyone knew that Manchester City couldn't reach an agreement with the other Premier League clubs. With Leeds United winning the Championship and earning promotion, Gao Shen's dual roles created a conflict of interest. The other clubs wouldn't allow him to continue coaching Manchester City.

Of course, if he chose to manage Leeds United, that was another story.

But who would seriously believe Gao Shen was crazy enough to manage Leeds United?

So, it was clear to all that he would be leaving City this summer. But before the official announcement, no one dared speak definitively, and many City fans still held onto hope for a miracle.

These past three years under Gao Shen had been extraordinary.

Manchester City hadn't just dominated the Premier League—they'd ruled over all of European football.

At this point, Gao Shen really couldn't say much more. All he could do was reiterate that it would be up to the club's official statement.

And he trusted that the statement would be handled with the utmost care.

After the media duties, the award ceremony began.

Platini and others were especially enthusiastic toward Gao Shen, personally inviting him to attend both the opening ceremony and the final of this summer's European Championship.

Gao Shen agreed on the spot, though he wasn't sure if he'd actually go.

This summer, he would be extremely busy.

On the professional side, he needed to oversee Leeds United's transfer business.

On the personal side, he had to focus on his family's "baby project."

This time, neither his parents nor in-laws had come to watch the final in person, but they kept calling and urging both him and Su Qing.

This pressure was unavoidable.

After the awards ceremony, they returned to the locker room, and Mansour arrived with Mubarak.

This time, the owner brought an even more extravagant UAE delegation than the previous year to watch the final. They had chartered a private plane to fly to Munich, with all expenses covered—top-class hospitality.

After giving the players recognition and bonuses, Gao Shen had a private conversation with Mansour and Mubarak.

Mansour said he planned to establish a football group and hoped to appoint Gao Shen as an honorary consultant. He would receive a substantial salary each year but wouldn't have to do anything—it would just be a title to maintain the relationship.

Gao Shen repeatedly expressed his gratitude to both Mansour and Mubarak, stating that even if he left Manchester City, the bond between them wouldn't be broken. They would remain good friends. He even promised to visit Mansour in Abu Dhabi when he had the time.

But as for the honorary position—he politely declined.

Gao Shen had always followed a simple principle in life: fight for what belonged to him, but never covet what did not.

Sure, taking that money now might feel good, but once you've reached a certain level, things are no longer just about money.

Some things, after all, can't be bought with money.

Mansour and Mubarak respected his decision.

…

Manchester City successfully defended their Champions League title at the Allianz Arena in Munich, sparking heated discussion across Europe and even the world, particularly in the UK.

From Manchester, a wave of euphoria swept across the nation.

Four crowns!

Seven titles in a single season!

The first time in British football history!

The first successful Champions League title defense since the competition's reform!

The first manager in Champions League history to win four titles!

So many "firsts" made this season's triumph even more historic for Manchester City.

When Mansour entered the locker room at the Allianz Arena to congratulate the team, back in Manchester, fans had already taken to the streets in wild celebration.

Even though it was late at night, fans spontaneously gathered at the Etihad Stadium and on the roads leading from Manchester Airport into the city. Many even drove south to the airport to greet the returning team.

According to the club's official plans, the team would stay overnight in Munich and return to Manchester the next morning, where they'd take an open-top bus for a championship parade.

But the fans were too excited to wait. They camped at the airport overnight, hoping to be the first to see the trophy and follow the bus during the parade.

Manchester City fans were out of their minds with joy!

And it wasn't just the fans. British media outlets like Sky Sports and BBC also prepared for full live coverage of the celebration.

At this point, it wasn't just a celebration for City fans. It was a nationwide event.

The result was predictable.

The moment City's chartered plane landed at Manchester Airport, the festivities officially began.

Everything that followed would be etched into memory for a long time.

The scenes were nothing short of spectacular.

When the open-top bus reached central Manchester, the streets were packed to the brim. People filled the sidewalks, windows, balconies, and even rooftops.

As Brian Kidd put it, "Today, Manchester City fans from all over the UK came."

They originally planned to reach the Etihad Stadium in just over two hours, but it took nearly half a day—they didn't arrive until nightfall.

The players were stranded on the bus, starving, and had to grab hamburgers just to fill their stomachs.

After displaying the seven trophies at the Etihad, the club began a grand celebration.

Players, coaches, staff, and executives—along with their families—gathered under a temporary tent on the construction site of the training ground across from the stadium. Everyone came together to celebrate the season's seven titles.

Everyone knew Gao Shen didn't drink. But that night, he was still forced to down two glasses of wine.

He then voluntarily toasted everyone with another glass, thanking them for their support over the past three years.

Everyone also knew—it was really a farewell.

Three drinks in, he wasn't drunk, but when he got home, he fell straight into a deep sleep.

…

Lying in bed, Gao Shen recalled everything that had happened over the past two days. It still felt unreal.

But no matter what, the seven titles were now history.

The media had been buzzing over the last couple of days, but once the European Championship approached, all the noise would fade.

Gao Shen was about to embark on a new journey.

So, from today, he needed to let all of it go.

He got up, brushed his teeth, took a shower, and changed clothes.

Just as he was about to go downstairs, Su Qing came up to call him for breakfast.

She was still amused by the way he toasted everyone with a single breath last night.

"I didn't even see you this excited at our wedding," Su Qing said teasingly.

Without blinking, Gao Shen replied, "Of course. We're an old married couple now. What's there to get excited about?"

Su Qing's face turned red. She rolled her eyes at him.

Can you not talk like that?

Drive like that and you'll have your license revoked!

While having breakfast, Su Qing mentioned something: Real Madrid had called.

Gao Shen had never used an agent. All domestic matters were handled by Su Qing, and he handled all foreign matters himself.

Ever since Su Qing resigned and moved to Europe, Gao Shen had entrusted her with managing all internal and external affairs. She was now acting like his agent in everything.

As for her role as Leeds United chairwoman, she could manage that remotely, unlike Lucas and Borrell.

"Florentino said they'll come whenever it's convenient for you," Su Qing said.

Everyone already knew Gao Shen was returning to Real Madrid.

They'd waited for him for more than half a year, and now the time had come.

"Arrange it for the day after tomorrow. I've got stuff to sort today and tomorrow," Gao Shen said.

Today, he needed to tie up loose ends with Manchester City and handle handover procedures. Tomorrow, he'd deal with Leeds United affairs.

But he couldn't delay beyond that. In two days, he would be taking Su Qing on a trip.

It was a plan long in the making. He needed time to truly relax—so they could focus on having a baby.

This time, Gao Shen had made a promise: for that trip, he wouldn't work, think about football, or care about anything else—just baby-making.

"Okay, I'll call Manuel later. We'll also need to arrange a proper reception. They're bringing a big delegation this time." Su Qing nodded.

Manuel was Florentino's trusted assistant and Real Madrid's general manager, Manuel Redondo.

"Oh, by the way—after the final at the Allianz Arena, when Lucas, Borrell, Sarri, and the others were leaving, we bumped into Rummenigge and Hoeness."

Gao Shen frowned. "What did they want?"

He had a bad feeling.

"They asked about Courtois."

Gao Shen cursed inwardly.

As expected.

(To be continued.)