"Not here for Delgado?"

  Heusler was a little surprised.

  I times, most of the teams that came knog on their door were looking for Delgado.

  No wohe Argentine forward was very eye-catg st season.

  In 2003, Basel brought him frentina for just one million euros. Today, three years ter, he was sold to Be?ikta?, and the transfer fee had risen to five million euros, a full fivefold increase.

  It ity that the big teams in Europe were always relut to raise the price; otherwise, they could have gotten at least two million more.

  "Mr. Gao, if not for Delgado, are you here for Patrick Muller?"

  Gao Shen shook his head. "No."

  Patrick Muller is anhly sought-after tre-back for Basel this summer. He performed very well in the UEFA Cup and is, alongside Delgado, one of the top pyers being pursued.

  The 28-year-old Swiss defender briefly pyed for Juventus before being sold to Lyon for 7.5 million euros in 2000. Four years ter, he transferred on a free from Lyon to Real Mallor Spain.

  A year ter, he returo Basel on a free transfer from Real Mallorca.

  Now, Lyon has e knog again, eager to buy back Patrick Muller. It's fasating how things e full circle.

  "Who is it then?" Heusler asked curiously.

  "Ivan Rakitic."

  "Oh, it's him!" Heusler, of course, knew who he was. Rakitic is a young pyer who just got promoted from the sed team. At only 18 years old, he pyed in just three first-team games st season. However, he is a regur in the Swiss national youth teams, from U16 and U17 to U19. He has been climbing the ranks, and everyone is optimistic about his prospects.

  "I'm sorry, Mr. Gao, but Ivan is a young talent we all have high hopes for..."

  Gao Shen didn't let him finish and smiled, waving his hand. "Speak directly; how much are you asking for?"

  Lucas, who was sittio him, almost couldn't help ughing out loud. Isn't this tohtforward and blunt?

  However, it was normal. Everyone could see that Heusler ying the iation game.

  Heusler chuckled but didn't feel embarrassed. iations are like this: buyers want it cheap, sellers want it expehat's normal; there's nothing to be ashamed of.

  "He's a genius. Although he is oeen years old, his potential is amazing..."

  "Are there too many geniuses in your team? He's only made three first-team appearances, all as a substitute."

  "Yes, we pn to make him a key pyer this season."

  Gao Shen was nonittal. "David Degen, 23 years old, currently valued at 1.6 million euros in the market, but you sold him to Bundesliga side Borussia M?ngdbach for just 900,000 euros."

  "And Baikal Belushi, 23 years old, is valued at 500,000 euros. You only sold him for 200,000 euros to Cologne in Germany."

  After finishing, Gao Shen looked at Heusler with a smile. "Both midfielders were the main pyers st season; both were young and performed well. Meanwhile, Rakitily pyed one game in the Swiss Super League, ing on as a substitute for 29 minutes, one UEFA Cup game as a substitute for 14 minutes, and one Swiss Cup game as a substitute for 26 minutes."

  "Rakitic performed well in the Swiss youth national teams and did well in the Basel youth team. He is currently valued at 450,000 euros. How much are you pnning to sell him for?"

  The transfer market today is very different from what it will be in a few years.

  Although there are local giants like Chelsea, the market value of pyers is generally not high.

  More importantly, for a team like Basel, the offer to a giant club is entirely different from the offer to other clubs sometimes even one or two times more.

  Why?

  Because the giants have money.

  If you don't gouge them now, when will you?

  Heusler looked at Gao Shen ily. He realized the other party had done his homework and was well-prepared.

  "Frankly speaking, Mr. Gao, I did uimate you before, but I'll be ho: we are very optimistic about Rakitic. A pyer like him, we won't easily let go. If we train him for awo or three years, he could be sold for a higher price."

  "But he might also bee worthless," Gao Shen replied.

  Both sides were telling the truth.

  For such young pyers, an injury, a psychological blow especially for teenagers in adolesce could rehem worthless anytime, anywhere.

  Thus, youth training has always been a high-risk industry.

  "So, 1.5 million euros, and we'll sell," Heusler said with a pained expression.

  Gao Shen shook his head. "I don't like bargaining. At most, 800,000 euros."

  "That's impossible," Heusler shook his head.

  "Then think about it again. I believe you're under a lot of financial pressure now."

  After doing well st season, Basel was eager to sell pyers this summer. Why?

  Because of tract renewals.

  For a small team like Basel, renewing tracts is a very painful process. In many cases, they would rather sell pyers and lose strength than renew tracts.

  Simply put, it's a sideration from a cost perspective.

  But they 't sell everyone. If they do, they won't be petitive.

  Heusler looked at the other Basel executives, especially the chairman, then gritted his teeth. "Add a bit mao."

  After thinking for a while, Gao Shen nodded and said, "Over one million, and I won't buy."

  One million euros was a lot for Basel.

  "Okay, deal!" Heusler extended his hand.

  Gao Shen shook hands with him. "I will arrange for someone from the Napoli club to discuss the specific details with you."

  There was no problem on Basel's side, but after iating the deal, Heusler couldn't help but gossip a little.

  "By the way, Gao, I'm very curious. Why did you choose Napoli, a newly promoted Serie B team?"

  Gao Shen smiled slightly and said, "I've said it before: I want to lead the team to win the Serie B championship a promoted to Serie A!"

  ...

  After talking with Basel's ma, Gao Shen obtaihe tact details for Rakitic's family ao visit them.

  As immigrants who escaped from Croatia, the Rakitic family settled in a small town called M?hlin, 20 kilometers east of Basel, he border between Switzernd and Germany.

  The small town has more Croatian immigrants than local residents. It's an old vilge, but the roads are and tidy, and it was easy for them to find the cafe in town.

  Soon, Gao Shehe 18-year-old Ivan Rakitic.

  With blond hair, he looked youthful, but he had a sunny smile on his face.

  For him, it was incredible to meet the coach who had just won the Champions League.

  Gao Shen mainly spoke with Rakitic's father, fog oransfer.

  Rakitic's father and older brother were both football pyers. They were deeply worried about him moving to Italy, especially to chaotiaples.

  "If you are ed, we arrange for you to live in Naples with him. The club provide housing subsidies. If you'd like, we even help you find work."

  However, for Rakitic's older brother, Dejan Rakitic, who was still pying in the lower leagues in Switzernd, Gao Shen said there was no way to help him find a team since his talent was indeed limited.

  How a pyer who 't even py in the lower leagues in Switzernd go to Italy?

  However, Gao Sheedly assured them that he believed Rakitic could bee a very good midfielder.

  Rakitic was very happy to be reized by Gao Shen.

  Although, in their opinion, Gao Shen was still too young and didn't have the aura of many famous managers, the close age gap made it easier to ect.

  In Basel, Rakitic pyed in a more advanced position, so he scored many goals. Last season, he scored nine goals in 21 games for the youth team, which was a det performance.

  But in Gao Shen's pn, Rakitic's position needed adjustment; he would py further back.

  "I've seen yame videos. You're very smart, and your footwork is good. You might be a bit ohinner side, but that's normal. I see you give your best in every game, which is the most important thing for me."

  Saying this, Gao Shely patted Rakiti the shoulder. "In any case, trust me. I will train you to bee one of the best midfielders in European football. Soon, you'll shine in Serie A and the Champions League!"

  Luka Rakitic, Ivan's father, couldn't bear it any longer.

  Is it really appropriate to make these promises and give motivational talks to his son in front of his old father?

  But look at Rakitic his eyes were filled with longing, and he was eating up this motivational talk.

  Not to mention his older brother, 23-year-old Dejan Rakitic looked envious, regretting not having worked harder earlier.

  Gao Shen couldn't stay long in M?hlin. After leaving his taformation with the Rakitic family, he then said a few words to Rakitic, mainly advising him to rex, adjust well, and ideally learn Italian lish, which would make it easier for him to ie into the team.

  "I'm very optimistic about you. You'll definitely make a big impact, just like De Red!"

  Before leaving, Gao Shen didn't fet to give him some more encement, leaving Rakitic feeling a bit dazed.

  De Red, currently the hottest young midfielder in European football, pys for Real Madrid. Despite having only pyed a few matches, he has already garnered widespread admiration and even pyed a key role in the Champions League final.

  He is the standard-bearer and dream for many young pyers.

  Naturally, Rakitic felt the same.

  On the way out of Marin, Lucas ughed while driving.

  "Gao, your ability to vince people is getting sharper and sharper."

  Gao Shen sidered this to be a pliment.

  But what does that even mean?

  Ba his previous job, the ability to vince subordinates was a necessary skill for leaders, especially when dealing with a group of fresh college graduates.

  There was no choice being a manager nowadays meant you had to know how to persuade people to get by.

  "By the way, where are we headed ?" Lucas asked.

  After the versation about Rakitic, Gao She more fident.

  "Tentina!"