Chapter 470: Too Much Money

How does the saying go?

Wars are won with logistics.

As the saying goes, supplies must come before the soldiers move. That's the reality.

As Napoli's general manager, Marino has always placed great importance on logistics. He does everything in his power to meet the demands of Gao Shen and the team.

Especially during international matches.

Last season, Napoli suffered due to the timing of international fixtures, which impacted their performance. Although Gao Shen didn't openly criticize it, both De Laurentiis and Marino reflected on the situation and made it their priority to address those shortcomings.

Now that Napoli is making a full-scale push on all fronts, logistical support has become the top priority.

De Laurentiis even issued strict orders, demanding Marino ensure every logistical detail was handled, regardless of cost.

At the end of March, Marino personally oversaw arrangements for players on international duty, demonstrating just how seriously he took the task.

The day after Napoli's game against AC Milan, Gao Shen went to the San Paolo Stadium to get a firsthand update.

…

"I've contacted the national teams, and I personally spoke to the football associations," Marino explained in his office, updating Gao Shen and De Laurentiis on the progress. "They understand our packed schedule and will try to accommodate us where possible."

"But, to be honest, it's going to be difficult. Right now, South America is in a critical phase of its World Cup qualifiers. Their schedules are tight, and their national teams are under immense pressure."

Put simply, Napoli had their own competitive pressures, while national teams were fighting for a place in the World Cup.

Just imagine the uproar if countries like Brazil, Argentina, or Uruguay failed to qualify. The stakes were enormous.

"Let's hear your plans," Gao Shen said, nodding.

"My team and I analyzed the South American qualifiers' schedule. There are two matchdays: one on March 28th or 29th, and the other on April 1st or 2nd," Marino explained. "Our 30th Serie A match is scheduled for the evening of April 5th."

Gao Shen didn't need to look at the calendar; he already knew these dates all too well. They'd been giving him a headache.

"Our South American players represent Peru, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil. While the first round of matches isn't a major concern, the second round is key. Peru plays Brazil in Porto Alegre, Argentina plays in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, and Uruguay faces Chile in Santiago."

Marino continued, "We contacted scouts and local sources in South America, as well as airlines. After extensive coordination, we decided that Buenos Aires would be the meeting point. Once the international matches conclude, players will fly directly to Buenos Aires from their respective venues.

"We estimate they'll all be there by noon on April 3rd. Of course, they won't get much rest during this process."

He paused before adding, "We spent over €100,000 to charter a flight. The players will board in Buenos Aires, and the plane will fly directly to Rome. The flight takes over ten hours. If all goes according to plan, they should arrive in Rome in the early hours of April 4th, or at worst, later that morning."

Gao Shen frowned. He could see the potential problems at every step.

While noon on April 3rd sounded ideal, reality might not cooperate.

For instance, after a match, players might not be able to head straight to the airport. What if the national team was delayed for some reason? And even if they made it to the airport, there was always the risk of flight delays.

In fact, delays were almost guaranteed.

In recent years, Serie A clubs had established a semi-standardized process for arranging transportation for South American and African players. Generally, clubs pooled resources to ensure their internationals returned to Europe as quickly as possible.

As long as the players were back in Europe, things became manageable.

Napoli had focused on optimizing the players' rest and recovery. The goal was for everyone to return to Naples on April 4th. Gao Shen wasn't too concerned about the Sampdoria match on April 5th.

Napoli still had a five-point lead in the league standings. Dropping points against Sampdoria wouldn't be catastrophic.

The priority was ensuring the squad was in peak condition for the Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal.

However, Marino explained that the shared Serie A charter flight would require a stop in Madrid. Napoli found this arrangement unacceptable and decided to bear the higher cost of a direct flight from Buenos Aires to Rome.

While the time saved might seem negligible, those few extra hours of rest and recovery were critical for professional players.

Gao Shen knew Marino had done his best.

In the grand scheme of things, football wasn't a priority for airlines or governments. It wasn't realistic to expect airlines to prioritize clubs over their regular schedules.

Even for international players, logistics had to comply with the laws and entry requirements of each country. As a result, national team matches often caused logistical headaches for clubs.

Every international break became a test of a club's logistical capabilities.

"Let's move on to the London arrangements," Gao Shen said.

Marino glanced at De Laurentiis, who nodded for him to proceed.

"I personally inspected the hotel you recommended. It's excellent, slightly over budget but still reasonable, so I went ahead and booked it," Marino said with a smile.

The hotel Gao Shen suggested was the same one he had used while managing Real Madrid during a trip to London. He'd been satisfied with it then, so he recommended it to Marino for Napoli's upcoming visit.

Gao Shen appreciated Marino's dedication. In terms of logistical support, traditional powerhouses like Real Madrid had always set a high standard when playing away games.

Marino's meticulous approach reassured Gao Shen. And De Laurentiis, now fully committed to supporting the team, didn't hold back.

After all, Napoli was in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Back when they were placed in the group of death, both De Laurentiis and Marino had considered the possibility of an early exit, thinking it wasn't worth risking too much.

But reaching the quarter-finals? That was beyond their wildest expectations.

What's more, Napoli had knocked out Chelsea.

This wasn't just progress, it was genuine success.

And with success came even better player performances.

The better the players performed, the higher their market value, giving Napoli leverage in future negotiations.

De Laurentiis, once hesitant about Gao Shen's 20% share agreement, no longer had any doubts.

Why?

Because Napoli's squad value had skyrocketed.

Take Cavani, for example. Last season's Serie A top scorer and still performing exceptionally well, the 22-year-old was valued at €30 million. But realistically, no one could expect to sign him for just €30 million.

Thiago Motta was another hot commodity, with Inter Milan, Barcelona, and even Real Madrid reportedly interested. Napoli wouldn't let him go for less than €20-30 million.

If Napoli made it to the semi-finals or further, the squad's value would only increase.

De Laurentiis and Marino could hardly imagine what that would look like. But one thing was certain: even if Gao Shen took his 20%, Napoli would still reap massive rewards.

De Laurentiis had come to terms with the deal. If Gao Shen decided to stay, he'd gladly offer him a new contract, with a higher salary and better terms.

What could he do? Gao Shen's leadership was just too profitable.

Gao Shen had tied De Laurentiis and Marino's interests firmly to the team's performance.

…

"Gao, tell us the truth—how confident are you about this quarter-final?" Marino asked, looking concerned.

Gao Shen glanced at Marino, then at De Laurentiis, who leaned forward slightly, his curiosity evident.

"Honestly, if both teams play at their normal level, I'm about 60% confident," Gao Shen said calmly.

"Sixty percent?" De Laurentiis repeated, surprised. "That's more than enough!"

He'd assumed it would be a 50-50 chance at best, or maybe even 40-60 against Napoli. Gao Shen's confidence exceeded his expectations.

"Are you sure?" Marino asked cautiously.

"If Arsenal is a strong team, then yes, they're strong. But if you look closer, you'll see they have plenty of weaknesses too," Gao Shen replied, his tone measured.

Though vague, his assessment wasn't wrong.

Arsenal's reputation for near-misses, top-four battles, and occasional collapses had made them a subject of endless jokes among fans. But these jokes also reflected lingering hope and expectations for the club.

People joked because they still cared. When no one bothers to criticize you anymore, that's when you've truly been written off.

As for Gao Shen, he had no expectations for Arsenal or any sympathy. He was focused entirely on preparing Napoli for the upcoming match.

Gao Shen already had a preliminary plan to counter Arsenal. His bold remarks weren't baseless, they were a calculated move to boost Napoli's morale and unsettle their opponents.

***

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