Chapter 442: Standard of the Wealthy

Like all award ceremonies, the Serie A Oscars wasn't just about giving out accolades, it was also a rare gathering for everyone involved in Italian football.

The event was attended by influential figures across the football world, including Inter Milan chairman Massimo Moratti, senior officials from the Italian Football Federation, key players in Italian football, coaches, referees, and even representatives from UEFA and FIFA.

Napoli chairman De Laurentiis, who had always enjoyed such occasions, came all the way from the south with general manager Marino.

Despite his reputation for being outspoken and sometimes abrasive, De Laurentiis was surprisingly well-liked in the football world.

As Sacchi jokingly put it, "It's normal. The three northern giants are all keeping a close eye on Napoli now."

Gao Shen smiled wryly at the remark.

This was the reality for smaller teams.

The three northern powerhouses—Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Juventus—were rich and influential. If they wanted to poach players from Napoli, it would be extremely difficult for Napoli to resist.

In truth, they were likely just waiting for Gao Shen to leave.

Everyone knew that the current Napoli team had been built by Gao Shen. As long as he stayed, no one could touch his players unless he gave the green light. De Laurentiis and Marino would never dare risk their reputations by forcing a sale behind his back.

But anyone who understood the game also knew that Napoli's financial situation was precarious.

As the saying goes: wear the hat that fits your head.

Even clubs like Roma and Lazio couldn't keep their players. Look at Roma, who's left besides Totti and De Rossi?

Both players stayed only because of their deep ties to the club. If they had wanted to leave, Roma would have been forced to sell them.

For Napoli, the best business model was clear: train and develop players, then sell them to the northern giants or foreign superclubs at high prices.

Trying to force players to stay, whether they wanted to or not, was a losing strategy. Did Napoli even have the financial resources to do so?

As long as the results were good, it might work. But if results faltered, the club could go bankrupt.

Take the current Napoli squad, for instance. The team's wage bill was climbing rapidly. What if they failed to qualify for the Champions League next season? A deficit of tens of millions of euros would be disastrous, and De Laurentiis would likely explode in frustration.

So, the entire Italian football world and even Europe was waiting.

Waiting for Gao Shen to leave.

Waiting for Napoli to collapse.

The thought saddened Gao Shen. But upon deeper reflection, he realized there was no reason to feel sorry for himself.

Even Arsenal, under Wenger, had to sell captains every year, didn't they?

Even Manchester United, under Ferguson, couldn't keep Cristiano Ronaldo, could they?

If one person struggles, it's unfortunate. But when everyone faces the same challenges, it's just the way things are.

Besides, if Napoli did sell players, Gao Shen stood to earn a 20% cut.

Given the current market value of Napoli's squad, his share would be astronomical.

And knowing De Laurentiis and Marino, there was no way they would sell anyone for cheap. Those two were as shrewd as they came. Trying to take advantage of them? Not a chance.

Just as Gao Shen parted ways with Sacchi, Marino approached him.

---

"You know what?" Marino started, a smile on his face. "Blanca from Inter Milan just asked me something."

"Let me guess," Gao Shen said. "They're after our players?"

"Exactly." Marino nodded, still smiling. "Guess who they're targeting."

"Who?" Gao Shen couldn't be bothered to guess.

"Three players: Bonucci, Vargas, and Thiago Motta."

Gao Shen raised an eyebrow. "Do they even have the money?"

"There are still a few days left in the winter transfer window. They want Thiago Motta and offered €20 million. I told them straight up: are you trying to insult us?" Marino laughed.

Gao Shen chuckled as well. The offer was indeed laughable.

Though Thiago Motta had joined Napoli for a modest fee, his performances had been exceptional. Under the meticulous care of trainers like Buenaventura and Pintus, he had remained injury-free and played at a consistently high level.

Now, many teams were eyeing this No. 4 player.

In fact, almost any team running a 4-3-3 formation would want Thiago Motta.

Why?

Because a player of his caliber in the number four role was incredibly rare in modern football.

Thiago Motta excelled in the position, offering a versatile and comprehensive skill set. Even Johan Cruyff had commented that Barcelona should bring him back to replace Yaya Touré.

While Touré was a phenomenal player, his individual strengths didn't perfectly suit the number four role.

Bringing Thiago Motta back to Barcelona to compete with Busquets would give the club a dual-anchor system—standard for top teams.

Looking across Europe, how many players could rival Thiago Motta in this role?

Fabregas?

"Come on, he's a woolly number four, can he play centre-back?

Thiago Motta, at 1.87 meters tall, was versatile enough to play as a defensive midfielder and a center-back. Could Fabregas do the same?

From start to finish, Fabregas was never a true number four. He couldn't anchor a midfield as a single defensive midfielder.

That's why not just Inter Milan, but also Real Madrid, Barcelona, and every team trying to implement a 4-3-3 system had their eyes on Thiago Motta.

And yet, they dared to offer only €20 million for such a player?

Gao Shen didn't usually involve himself in transfer negotiations, but since Marino had brought it up, he didn't mind sharing his thoughts. Pulling Marino aside to a quieter spot, he spoke firmly.

"Pierpaolo, the most important thing right now is to maintain stability. As you know, the team is competing on three fronts. Blanca's attempt to poach players could be a deliberate move to disrupt our morale," Gao Shen said, his tone serious.

Marino nodded. "Don't worry, I understand completely."

"I want to lead this team to achieve something this season. Success benefits everyone—me, the players, the club, and even you. Even if we fail, it won't hurt the team long-term, right?"

"Don't worry, Gao. De Laurentiis and I treat these offers as jokes. Yes, we're under financial pressure, but we have no intention of selling players during the winter transfer window. Since we agreed to this bet with you, we won't back down now," Marino assured him with equal seriousness.

Gao Shen patted Marino's arm and nodded.

Anyone paying attention could see that Napoli was aiming high for the second half of the season, but the financial strain was real. Balancing ambition and budget wasn't just a challenge for smaller teams, it was a challenge even for giants.

Unless you're backed by an oil-rich owner, achieving both is nearly impossible.

"I won't interfere after the season ends, but until then, you must fully support me," Gao Shen insisted.

Marino nodded again. "Understood. I'll pass the message to De Laurentiis."

---

By the time Gao Shen entered the Concert Hall for the Serie A Oscars, he already knew the outcome of most of the awards.

Some of it was guesswork; some came from inside sources.

Gao Shen had become a prominent figure in Italian football. Knowing a few influential people in the Italian Football Association was inevitable.

The results were unsurprising.

The Best Goalkeeper award went to Juventus' Gianluigi Buffon. At this stage, no active goalkeeper in the world could rival Buffon.

Handanović and Júlio César were still developing and lacked Buffon's consistency and commanding presence.

This result was expected.

The Defender of the Year award, however, sparked some controversy.

It went to Napoli's Leonardo Bonucci.

This wasn't to say Bonucci had performed poorly, far from it. Napoli's defense had been the best in Serie A, arguably in all of Europe last season. But Bonucci's performances hadn't been consistently outstanding.

As Gao Shen had said before, he preferred David Luiz.

The Brazilian defender had made remarkable progress in his three seasons in Italy, becoming more stable and reliable.

In Gao Shen's previous life, David Luiz had gone to the Portuguese league, where his growth was uneven. But playing in Serie A, with its tactical focus, had shaped him into a stronger, more stable player.

While Bonucci had done well, Luiz arguably had an edge in terms of development and consistency.

The Best Rookie award went to Marek Hamsik.

This result was less controversial. Hamsik's performances had been stellar, with impressive stats to back them up. Among the rookies, he was undoubtedly the best.

Unless, of course, players like Sánchez or Di María were included in the category. But in that case, the list would have been completely dominated by Napoli.

The Best Italian Player award went to Alessandro Del Piero, while the Best Foreign Player award went to Zlatan Ibrahimović. The Best Player award, chosen between the best Italian and foreign players, also went to Ibrahimović.

This wasn't a surprise either.

Cavani had been brilliant, winning the Golden Boot and leading Napoli to the title, but his rise had been too sudden. He wasn't yet in a position to challenge Ibrahimović's status in Serie A and European football.

In awards like these, reputation and legacy often carried weight.

It was no different with FIFA's Player of the Year or the Ballon d'Or. The Serie A Oscars were no exception.

However, if Cavani continued his performances this season, he'd have a real shot at the top honors next year.

As for the Coach of the Year award?

It had the least suspense of all.

What could Carlo Ancelotti at AC Milan or Cesare Prandelli at Fiorentina offer to challenge Gao Shen?

In terms of results, Napoli had won the league and cup double. In terms of style, Napoli's tactics had set a trend in Serie A and European football. In terms of influence, Gao Shen was quickly becoming one of Europe's top coaches.

His only "weakness" was his lack of experience, he was still very young.

But in the face of such achievements, that didn't matter. Gao Shen was awarded the Golden Chair, an honor Roberto Mancini had long coveted but never even been nominated for.

Amid warm applause, Gao Shen stepped onto the stage to accept the award.

In his speech, he shared the honor with everyone in Naples, emphasizing that it was the collective effort of the coaching staff, players, management, and fans that had made it possible.

"This award is a great encouragement to me," he said.

"My players and I will continue working hard. We will strive to perform even better in Serie A, the Coppa Italia, and the Champions League!"

***

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