After winning the championship, many things started to proceed by the book.
Gao Shen was repeatedly tossed into the air by the players. When he went on stage to receive the award, his son stole the spotlight. During the team photo, the boy was placed on top of the trophy by the Real Madrid players. When interviewed by reporters, Gao Shen reiterated his decision to leave Real Madrid.
Everything seemed to follow the script.
The Real Madrid players partied from the dressing room all the way to the hotel, and in the end everyone was drunk and passed out.
This was definitely the most difficult season since Gao Shen took over. They encountered too many setbacks and challenges, and too many difficulties. That was why, after overcoming them all, especially after winning tonight, everyone was extremely excited and thrilled.
Even the always cautious Carlo got drunk, shouting and venting with Gao Shen. Zidane even said this was the toughest final of his life, and the one he was proudest of.
Real Madrid made history.
From now on, each of them is part of that history.
At that moment, little Gao Ming burst in, raising his drink and shouting loudly, "Me too, I'm part of history!"
Everyone adored the kid and dragged him into the celebrations.
Gao Shen eventually lost track of time.
In any case, his son kept insisting on sleeping with his godfather, so Gao Shen sent them back to their room and returned.
His wife Su Qing had been waiting in their room for a long time. Hearing that their son was going to sleep with Zidane, she was relieved, though she was a little resentful that Gao Shen indulged the boy too much.
In their family, the mother was strict and the father kind.
Gao Shen's parents and his in-laws had long grown used to him leading teams to Champions League finals. At first they wanted to watch his matches. Later they lost interest.
They were getting older and less willing to cause a fuss.
In public, Su Qing always displayed elegance, intelligence, and poise. Only when they were alone did she reveal her tenderness and affection. This was why they were still so close after so many years of marriage.
This night was destined to be sleepless.
…
"Great Real Madrid. Great Gao Shen."
"How lucky we are to live in the same era as this profound Real Madrid."
"This is the greatest moment in world football history. Gao Shen and his Real Madrid have created an unprecedented six straight Champions League titles, booking the title of best club of the 21st century in advance."
"In Kyiv, we witnessed the birth of great history."
Around noon the next day, the entire Real Madrid delegation departed Kyiv amid flowers and applause from the global media.
After nearly five hours in the air, they arrived at Madrid's capital airport in the afternoon.
By then, the entire airport was surrounded by fanatical Real Madrid supporters. Thousands either rushed into the terminal or waited at the entry and exit passages, blocking the way.
Real Madrid had already arranged an open-top bus. All the trophies won this season were brought to the airport and, together with the Champions League won in Kyiv, placed on the bus as it slowly drove toward the Bernabéu.
There, in Real Madrid's trophy room, everything would be displayed. Although it had been renovated and expanded a few years ago, it had already become too small again. It was expanded once more this season, which had become quite the story.
Who could compare with Real Madrid in recent years? Like a harvester of titles, they won wherever they went.
As the open-top bus crawled toward the city center, fans gradually noticed that head coach Gao Shen was not on board.
At first, they thought he had not returned to Madrid with the team, so they surrounded the bus and chanted Gao Shen's name. Their voices grew louder and louder, picked up by the Spanish National Television broadcast.
In the end, captain Ramos took the microphone on the bus and explained to the supporters that the head coach had returned with the team but had urgent matters to handle, and would meet them at the Bernabéu.
This temporarily calmed the fans.
What was more, they soon discovered that although the head coach was not there, his son was.
The kid had sneakily joined the Real Madrid players and climbed aboard.
With his precious son there, how could Gao Shen possibly slip away?
…
One of the main reasons Gao Shen did not ride the parade float was that he was tired.
These trophy parades look great in newspapers and on TV. The first time you experience it, it feels fresh and exciting. But when you get older and you have done it many times, you realize it is actually exhausting.
By initial estimates, it would take until evening to get from the airport to the Bernabéu, though the exact time was uncertain.
After the celebration at the Bernabéu, they still had to go to Plaza de España for the customary ceremony, which would likely be after midnight.
For a middle-aged man like Gao Shen, better to skip it.
Together with his assistants, he took the Real Madrid legends' bus, left the airport, and arrived at the Bernabéu earlier than everyone else.
Florentino and others had already arrived and were hosting everyone in the stadium restaurant.
It might be the last commercial corner of the Bernabéu as it stands.
After moving Real Madrid's offices to Valdebebas, Florentino launched a renovation plan for the Bernabéu, with an estimated investment of 800 million euros. It was an ambitious project.
A sum like that would be enough to build a brand-new top stadium.
But given the Bernabéu's location in Madrid's city center, reconstruction was not possible, so it had to be renovated. Sometimes, renovation costs even more than rebuilding.
Florentino was clearly full of ambition as he introduced the plan.
In recent years, Real Madrid had been the most profitable club in European football, and with the team's Champions League dominance, the club's commercial value had soared.
It was estimated that this season's revenue would exceed 900 million euros, a staggering figure.
Barcelona, second on the list, were estimated at under 700 million, so Real Madrid were far ahead.
Commercial success came from performance on the pitch, but also from the stars in the squad.
For example, Gao Shen was Real Madrid's most commercially influential "superstar," surpassing even Ronaldo.
This was also why Florentino had been reluctant to let Ronaldo go.
After all, renovating the Bernabéu would be expensive.
In today's era, producing another top-level superstar is extremely difficult, especially one like Ronaldo with both image and ability.
But this season, everyone had seen Ronaldo's decline, and since he was unhappy with his salary, leaving had become inevitable.
…
"I made a mistake."
After dinner, Gao Shen, Zidane, Jose Sanchez, Butragueño, Redondo, and Valdano gathered in Florentino's office.
Although Valdano no longer worked for Real Madrid, he remained a close friend and confidant of Florentino.
"I am sorry, Gao," Florentino said, an extremely rare apology.
Gao Shen smiled and waved it off. "Do not say that, Florentino."
Although he was about to leave Real Madrid, they were parting on good terms.
Going forward, Real Madrid would continue to operate Gao Shen's personal brand, with him receiving a share of the profits.
There was no separating them after so many years of deep ties.
Besides, where else could you find a top club as skilled at commercial operations as Real Madrid?
Leeds United's commercial operations were very strong, but not yet at Real Madrid's level.
Moreover, Leeds already had their own head coach, and it would not be good for Gao Shen to be too involved.
"The squad will definitely be restructured this summer. The technical team has submitted a plan to bring in two superstars, namely our opponents last night, Mbappé and Van Dijk from Leeds United."
Everyone turned to look at Gao Shen, even Florentino watching him carefully.
It was a test of sorts.
Gao Shen appeared unconcerned and nodded with a smile. "Both are extremely talented, and both are in very high demand."
"Yes, we have heard that Paris Saint-Germain are also focusing their recruitment on Mbappé," Jose Sanchez said, grinning at Gao Shen.
"Gao, please put in a word for us later."
Everyone laughed.
Gao Shen was used to this role. At Real Madrid, he was the head coach.
"You know I basically do not meddle in Leeds United's management," Gao Shen said, shaking his head.
Of course everyone knew that was not strictly true, but no one said it aloud.
"The biggest issue now is still defense. Pepe and Ramos are aging, and Varane has dipped this season. Bringing in a top center-back is the key to the rebuild," Gao Shen suggested.
Everyone nodded.
"Center-backs are indispensable now," Valdano reminded. "Last summer, Manchester United even spent 100 million euros to grab Maguire, which says it all."
That was also a Leeds United deal.
It was remarkable.
At some point, Leeds United began producing top center-backs year after year, from Koulibaly to De Vrij to Stones to Maguire, and now Van Dijk.
Crucially, after selling Maguire for a sky-high fee, Leeds signed De Ligt from Ajax for 5 million euros, and promoted Militao and Ruben Dias from the academy.
Leeds United's center-back strength had not dropped this season. It was an astonishing operation.
There were many similar cases.
So over the years, Leeds had sold many players and earned huge transfer fees, but their overall strength had risen, and their results improved year by year. They were now a Premier League powerhouse and were just a step from winning the Champions League this season.
Who would believe there was no profound strategy behind this?
If Maguire was worth 100 million euros, how much was Van Dijk?
With the market bubble expanding rapidly, nine-figure fees were no longer a shock.
Last summer, Paris Saint-Germain paid a 220 million euro buyout to take Neymar from Barcelona. Barcelona then signed Brazilian prodigy Felipe Anderson from Leeds United for 150 million euros.
In addition, after being crushed by a powerful Real Madrid in the 2015 Champions League final, Barcelona capitalized on the lifting of their transfer ban and signed Coutinho for 140 million euros, causing an uproar.
In recent years, nine-figure transfers had become rare, but not unusual.
And everyone knew Mbappé was likely to be another astronomical deal.
It might even set a new record.
(To be continued.)