"Mehdi!"

  Just as Benatia was about to head toward the locker room, he heard Gao Shen's voice calling out to him from the doorway of the coach's office.

  Turning to see Gao Shen waving him over, Benatia immediately jogged toward him.

  "Boss," he greeted respectfully.

  Although he was o the team, Benatia khat it was Gao Shen who had given him a sed football. Without Gao Shen, he might not have even had a team to py for, let alone an opportunity at this level. For this, his heart was full of gratitude.

  Since joining Napoli, Benatia had also e to uand just how highly regarded Gao Shen was withieam.

  Whehe pyers spoke about Gao Shen in private, there wasn't a single bad word about him. Instead, their ents were filled with admiration and respect, undersg the deep trust Gao Shen had built with his pyers.

  Benatia had pyed for several clubs before, but this was the first time he had entered a coach who was held in such high esteem.

  …

  It was early evening, and training had just cluded for the day.

  Gao Shen grabbed two chairs ahem outside the coach's office, sitting down as the setting sun cast its golden light over the horizon.

  "It's been almost two months since you arrived in Italy. How are you settling in?" Gao Shen asked with a friendly smile.

  Benatia had been learning Italian for three months, starting from the moment he signed with Napoli. By now, he could handle basiversations without issue. Gao Shen had his early on as a sign of Benatia's intelligence.

  "It's going well," Benatia replied.

  "How's life here?"

  "Very good."

  "And your aodations?"

  "They're great too."

  "Is there anything b you?"

  "No, nothing at all."

  By the end of the rapid-fire questions, Benatia couldn't help but chuckle.

  Siaking over as Napoli's coach, Gao Shen had beeiculous about ensuring his pyers were well taken care of.

  One reason for this was the youthfulness of Napoli's squad. Gao Shen uood the pressures young pyers faced, especially those suddenly thrust into the limelight with rge paychecks. He made it a point to provide guidand keep them grounded.

  Another reason was that many of these pyers cked the experieo maheir lives effectively, so Gao Shen ehey had support. Team captain Montevino oftehe role of mentor, and Gao Shen had specifically entrusted Benatia to Montevino's care when he joined.

  After a bit of small talk, Gao Shen smoothly shifted the versation toward training and matches.

  One of the things Gao Shen admired most about Benatia was his eagero learn. The Moro defender made it a habit to carefully study the analysis reports provided after every game and training session, w tirelessly to improve himself.

  Since arriving at Napoli, Benatia's progress had been evident, though Gao Shen noted one key area where he needed work, he was still too polite in his py.

  This wasn't a major issue, though. Gao Shen had already instructed avaro to mentor Benatia and teach him some of the "tricks" o excel in Serie A.

  "What do you think about the uping Italian Super Cup?" Gao Shen asked casually.

  Benatia hesitated for a moment, then replied, "I think we win."

  "That's the spirit!" Gao Shen ughed, clearly amused by the safe, fttering answer. "But what I really want to know is: what's your personal take on it?"

  "I…" Benatia trailed off, unsure of how to respond. He was just a newer, an unknown pyer who hadn't pyed a petitive mat over a year. What insight could he possibly offer?

  "If," Gao Shen began, his tone light but deliberate, "I asked you to mark Ibrahimovic, do you think you could do it?"

  Benatia froze in shock, staring at Gao Shen as if he hadn't heard him correctly.

  "Me?" The Moro defender's voice betrayed his disbelief. "How could that be possible?"

  "Why not?" Gao Shen tered with a calm smile.

  Benatia fumbled for a response, unsure of how to vey his doubts.

  He wao remind Gao Shen that he was just a rookie, a pyer with no top-flight experience, who had spent a year sidelined by a serious knee injury. Meanwhile, Ibrahimovic was one of the best strikers in the world, a pyer who towered over the likes of i, Drogba, and Torres.

  Gao Shen wanted him to mark Ibrahimovic?

  "Boss, are you joking?" Benatia asked awkwardly.

  But Gao Shen simply smiled and shook his head. His silence was more pelling than any words could have been.

  Realizing that Gao Shen wasn't joking, Benatia's nerves began to ki. He licked his dry lips, his heart pounding.

  "I know it's a lot to ask all of a sudden," Gao Shen said gently. "But it's okay. You have three days to think about it. Once you've made up your mind, give me your answer."

  Benatia felt as though the grouh him had shifted. After a moment of thought, he mao ask, "Boss, why?"

  "Why?" Gao Sheed, pretending not to uand.

  "Why do you think I defend someone like Ibrahimovic?"

  Even saying the striker's name sent a chill dowia's spine.

  "It's simple," Gao Shen replied firmly. "Because I believe you ."

  Benatia was taken aback. While he appreciated the vote of fidence, he couldn't shake the feeling that Gao Shen was overestimating him.

  Gao Shen uood where Benatia's doubts came from. The defender had spent too long away from petitive football. Add to that his ck of experie the top level, and it was no wonder he cked fidence.

  But Gao Shen also khat Benatia had the potential to bee one of Europe's top defenders. The ability to reach that level required a resilient spirit and an unshakable determination.

  "I know you're not a household name," Gao Shen tinued. "But when you trai Cirefontaine, didn't you dream of being a world-css defender? Didn't you look up to pyers like Desailly, Bnd Thuram?

  "You told me your best friend is Nasri. He's now a Frenternational with a bright future. Back then, you were equals. Do you really think you're aalehan him?

  "You've worked so hard to get here, Mehdi. You've endured injuries, setbacks, and doubts from others. So why are you doubting yourself now?"

  Benatia listened ily, the fire inside him slowly reigniting.

  "And remember," Gao Shen pressed on, "when I first brought you to Napoli, I told you that you were not a substitute. You were here to pete alongside David Luiz, Bonucci, and avaro. You promised me then that you wouldn't let me down.

  "So, tell me, you do what they do? Or will you let this opportunity slip away?"

  Benatia ched his jaw, his mind rag.

  "Go bad think it ao Shen said, his tone softening. "If you think you do it, I'll give you the ce to prove yourself in front of all of Italy, Europe, and the world.

  "But if you don't think you're ready, that's fioo. I'll find someone else who is."

  …

  Standing by the window of the adjat coach's office, Zidached the exge between Gao Shen aia unfold.

  He couldn't help but marvel at Gao Shen's ability to motivate pyers.

  Sometimes Zidahought Gao Shen didn't seem like a football coach at all—more like a masterful salesman.

  Hadn't Real Madrid's pyers once been simirly inspired by Gao Shen's words? Hadn't they goo every match like warriors, ready to fight tooth and nail?

  If Gao Shen could stir up a team full of veteran superstars, what ce did a young pyer like Benatia have against his eloquence?

  Zidane's only was whether Benatia could truly deliver.

  If he did, it would be nothing short of miraculous. A free transfer marking one of the world's best strikers ialian Super Cup? If Benatia succeeded, his market value would skyrocket ht, and Gao Shen's reputation for spotting talent would reach eveer heights.

  o him, Carlo's voice broke the silence.

  "Care to make a bet?" Carlo asked with a grin.

  Zidauro him with a skeptical look.

  "I thiia do it," Carlo said. "Gao Shen always surprises us. Sometimes it feels like he pull off the impossible."

  Zidane shook his head, chug softly as he turo leave.

  "Bet with you? Do I look that stupid?"