In his past work at rge corporations, Gao Shen often entered a peculiar phenomenon: panies ying off employees while simultaneously hiring new ones.

  It sounded tradictory, but it was actually very any panies even used polished phrases like "optimizing human resource allocation" or "improving workforce structure." The jargon made it sound strategic, almost noble.

  Initially, Gao Shen had believed it too.

  But as his career advanced and he gained more insight into the inner ws of ma, he came to uand the truth.

  Ultimately, it boiled down to a cost-be calcution.

  The employees who were let go were typically older, seasoned workers who had been with the pany for a while. They had det saries but cked effid enthusiasm. Most were in their mid-to-te 30s, an age where their careers had pteaued, and they weren't as flexible or dynamiymore.

  Meanwhile, the new hires were usually fresh graduates—young, eager, and willing to hustle. They were unpolished but full of energy, ready to pull all-nighters without pint, and came with much lower sary expectations.

  This stant rotation didn't necessarily impact the pany's performance, but it did save a signifit amount in payroll costs.

  ---

  Sitting on the flight from Beijing to Italy, Gao Shen thought about this practice. His eyes were closed, but his mind was turning.

  He realized that Napoli was on the verge of adopting a simir approach.

  In simple terms, De Laurentiis and Marino were likely pnning to sell off a few valuable pyers to cash in, then bring in younger, cheaper talent. They would aim to maintain a petitive level in Serie A, particurly to secure Champions League qualification, while l overall expenses.

  This strategy—buy low, sell high—would allooli to profit from transfer fees and reduce wages and bonuses.

  However, Gao Shehis wouldn't sit well with the fans. Many would criticize Napoli for g ambition, for prioritizing finances over trophies.

  But the reality was harsh. Maintaining a high-perf team year after year required an immense financial itment—something De Laurentiis couldn't sustain indefinitely.

  Gao Shen had once read a report about Abramovich's iment in Chelsea. By 2020, Abramovich had spent over 2 billion euros iransfer market, with a iment exceeding 1 billion euros.

  And that didn't even at for the staggering sums spent on pyer saries, bonuses, rading facilities. While those numbers didn't make as many headlines as transfer fees, they were just as substantial.

  Despite all that iment, Chelsea's success was hard-earned and came with no guarantees.

  So, from the moment Gao Shen took charge at Napoli, he had uood the club's limitations.

  Napoli wasn't destio be a perennial title tender.

  De Laurentiis and Marino's ambitions were clear: they wanted Napoli to be a sistent for Serie A—a team that could regurly qualify for the Champions League.

  Winning the title? That was left to ce.

  Last season, Gao Shen had defied expectations, achieving far more than De Laurentiis or Marino had dared to hope. But now, Gao Shen could see what was i.

  This uanding was also why he had deyed renewing his tract.

  He was waiting.

  So far, De Laurentiis and Marino had treated him with resped trust. But he k was time for an ho versation.

  ---

  "Give me one more year."

  The moment Gao Shen arrived at Napoli, he went straight to the club's headquarters at the San Paolo Stadium. He didn't even stop at home.

  De Laurentiis and Marino were already waiting for him.

  And those were the first words out of Gao Shen's mouth.

  It was a direct, open proposal. Gao Shen believed that transparency was crucial, there was no point in pying games or avoiding the iable.

  De Laurentiis and Marino exged a ghey hadn't expected Gao Shen to be so upfront, but in a way, it was a relief.

  Once everyone id their cards oable, it would be easier to rea agreement.

  "Gao, to be ho," De Laurentiis began, "I had Pierpaolo run some preliminary numbers. If we renew everyone's tracts, the financial pressure on the club will be immense."

  His message was clear: he wao sell pyers.

  Napoli's rapid rise had created a financial gap. The team's performan the pitch had outpaced its revenue growth, and the shortfall o be addressed—likely by selling off key pyers.

  "I uand," Gao Shen replied calmly. "But De Lao, let me ask you—are you really willing to do that?"

  Both De Laurentiis and Mariaken aback.

  "What do you mean?" De Laurentiis asked.

  "I'll be frank," Gao Shen said. "With the current strength of this team, we have a real ce to get out of the Champions League group stage and into the knockout rounds. That alone would bring in at least 20 to 30 million euros in reve would signifitly improve the club's finances and increase the market value of our pyers even further."

  De Laurentiis hesitated. "Gao, that's the ideal sario. But what if it doesn't happen? What if we don't qualify from the group stage? You know we'll be pced in the group of death. Do you really think we'll make it out?"

  Marino chimed in. "Gao, De Laurentiis has been discussing this with me for weeks. We want the team to perform well in the Champions League, but we're sidering selling just one or two pyers to ease the financial burden. We'd still rei some of that money into the squad, and you'd have full trol over who t irust your judgment pletely."

  It was a reasonable promise.

  But Gao Shen shook his head. "I don't have time to rebuild the team right now. Iing new pyers takes time, and this group—this squad—is the result of two years of careful work. I 't repce that ht."

  He leaned forward, his tone firm. "Believe me. Give me one more year, and I'll get us into the Champions League knockout stage."

  De Laurentiis and Marino exged annce.

  Gao Shen's meaning was clear: this would be his final season at Napoli.

  He wanted o ake an impa Europe before moving on.

  If De Laurentiis wao sell pyers, he could do so summer. But for now, Gao Shen wao keep the team intact.

  ---

  The room fell silent for several minutes.

  Gao Shen waited patiently, his expression calm. Across the table, De Laurentiis sat deep in thought, calg the risks and rewards.

  Finally, the Napoli owner let out a heavy sigh.

  "Gao," he said slowly, "everyone in Naples is grateful for what you've done for this club. You're already the greatest coa our history. And someday, we'll build a statue of you o Maradona's in the heart of the city."

  De Laurentiis paused, taking a deep breath.

  "I'm not saying I don't believe in you. But you have to uand—I'm not Abramovich. I 't afford to gamble with this much money."

  Marino tensed, fearing that De Laurentiis was about to refuse Gao Shen's proposal.

  But then, De Laurentiis looked up, his eyes resolute.

  "So… Gao, I'll give you one more season!"

  Marino nearly gasped in relief.

  De Laurentiis tinued, "Two years ago, you told me you'd make Napoli a Serie A powerhouse within three years. You kept that promise. Now you're saying we reach the Champions League knockout stage, and I believe you."

  He gritted his teeth. "I'll move forward with the tract renewals. I'll find the money somehow. You focus on leading the team."

  Gao Shehe weight of De Laurentiis' trust.

  He nodded firmly. "I fulfilled my promise two years ago, and I'll fulfill it again now."

  De Laurentiis smiled faintly. "I've never doubted you."

  He turo Marino. "Make sure everything runs smoothly. No distras."

  Marino nodded immediately. "I'll handle all the logistics personally. The team won't have any s off the pitch."

  Gao Shen couldn't help but smile. He was ready.

  The uping season would be his first Champions League campaign since leaving Real Madrid.

  And this time, he would prove to the world that his success wasn't because of the club he coached—it was because of who he was.

  Because his name was Gao Shen.