Football: I am the coach of Atlético de Madrid.

Chapter 11:

"Hurry up, Kaká!"

A teenager leaned out of the back window of a red Volkswagen Gol parked in the driveway, shouting toward the second floor of the house.

"Coming!" A hurried voice called back from inside.

The boy slumped back into his seat, puffing his cheeks. "He's always like this—packing half the house just to visit grandma's."

Mr. and Mrs. Leite exchanged glances from the front seats and smiled knowingly.

"He loves swimming—it's a good thing," Mr. Leite said.

"Good thing?" The younger brother protested. "He sneaks off to dive when no one's watching!"

Mrs. Leite turned toward her younger son, Digan, smiling as she teased, "And you don't?"

Digan tried to hold back a grin, but his attempt failed miserably. "I'm not like him!"

The Leites shared another knowing look. Both boys were good kids, but as brothers go, there was always some rivalry.

Just then, a cheerful teenager with a sunny smile came rushing out of the house, bolting toward the car. He climbed in, slightly out of breath.

"All set, Dad!"

"Kaká," Mrs. Leite said, turning to her elder son, "did you pack something extra for Grandma's?"

Kaká chuckled nervously, feigning innocence, but his silence gave him away.

"Listen," she continued, "the pool at Grandma's house is shallow. You used to be small enough to jump in, but you're taller now. Be careful, okay?"

"Got it, Mom. Can we go now?" Kaká replied impatiently, urging his father to start driving.

Mrs. Leite shook her head in exasperation, glancing at her husband. The boys were growing up and becoming harder to manage.

Just as Mr. Leite started the car and backed out of the driveway, his phone rang.

"Your office sure keeps you busy," Digan muttered from the back seat.

Mr. Leite parked by the curb, smiled at his younger son, and said, "My 'office' is your football club."

Since Kaká joined São Paulo's youth academy, the Leites had moved closer to the club to support his career. Mr. Leite even took a job there to stay involved.

But when he answered the call, his expression froze as if struck by lightning.

When he hung up, he looked dazed, his face pale.

"What's wrong, Bosco?" Mrs. Leite asked, alarmed.

He turned to his wife, then to Kaká in the back seat, and said, "That was the club. Atlético Madrid from La Liga has made an offer for Kaká. One million euros. The club has accepted."

"What?"

Mrs. Leite was as stunned as her husband.

Kaká, sitting in the back, was equally speechless.

For years, the family had dreamed of Kaká playing in Europe—a path to fame and fortune in Brazil. Yet now that the opportunity had come so suddenly, they felt an overwhelming sense of fear.

The unknown is always intimidating.

"Thank you for meeting me, Mr. Leite. I hope I didn't disrupt your plans," Yang Hao said warmly later that evening.

He was hosting the Leite family—including Digan—at a hotel near São Paulo FC.

When Yang Hao learned the family had planned a visit to Kaká's grandmother, he couldn't help but wonder: Was this the same trip when Kaká's infamous diving accident happened?

In his previous life, Kaká had fractured his sixth vertebra during a pool dive, nearly paralyzing his lower body. The incident delayed his debut for São Paulo's first team.

But this time, the timeline didn't match. Some sources claimed the accident happened in late summer or September, and it was only June now.

Still, Yang Hao felt a sense of relief. The important thing was that Kaká hadn't been injured.

Does this count as saving Kaká?

"Mr. Yang," Mr. Leite asked cautiously, "may I ask why you're interested in my son?"

"Do you think I'm a scammer?" Yang Hao joked with a smile.

"No, no, not at all," Mr. Leite quickly clarified. "We've seen the news about you—how you led Atlético Madrid to a miraculous escape from relegation and beat Real Madrid to win the Copa del Rey. There's been a lot of coverage here in Brazil. You've made quite an impression."

Yang Hao hadn't expected his reputation to precede him, but he appreciated the compliment.

Sensing Mr. Leite's hesitation, Yang Hao leaned back and listened as he explained.

"To be honest, Kaká has always been talented, but he's had some physical challenges. He was small for his age and had delayed bone development. At 14, he was about the size of a 12-year-old—short and skinny, though very skilled."

Yang Hao was intrigued. He hadn't known this about Kaká. The story felt familiar, almost archetypal.

"Looking at him now, you'd never guess," Yang Hao remarked, observing the lean but tall teenager in front of him.

Indeed, Kaká had grown into a 1.86-meter frame, but his build still hinted at his earlier struggles.

"Too thin," Yang Hao thought. He wasn't criticizing, but it was clear Kaká still needed to physically mature to compete at the top level.

He was as skinny as a bamboo stick.

"He only started growing taller around 15 or 16," Mr. Leite explained. "As you probably know, being too short and then having a sudden growth spurt isn't great. Over the past two years, Kaká has been trying to adjust to this change."

Yang Hao nodded in understanding.

For technical players, a sudden growth spurt can be a disaster. It means the techniques, speed, and explosiveness they once relied on might no longer work.

Some players manage to adapt, often by changing their playing style. Others struggle and fade into obscurity.

But Kaká's speed and explosiveness were clearly still there, and his technical ability remained intact.

"During that time, Kaká must have worked very hard—and it's paying off, isn't it?" Yang Hao said.

Mr. Leite glanced at Kaká, pride shining in his eyes as he nodded. "My colleagues at São Paulo helped a lot. They created a special diet plan for him, and Kaká worked extremely hard. His speed and explosiveness haven't declined, but his agility and flexibility aren't quite what they used to be."

"Is he still playing as a forward?" Yang Hao asked.

"Yes, but his physical strength is poor," Mr. Leite admitted. "As you can see, he's grown taller so quickly that we didn't dare start him on strength training yet."

At this point, Yang Hao had pieced it all together.

In his previous life, he'd always wondered: why would someone as cautious as Kaká dive into a shallow pool and fracture his spine?

Now he understood.

The rapid growth spurt had thrown off his coordination and judgment. Kaká probably still evaluated physical risks using the standards he had when he was shorter, leading to the miscalculated dive that caused his injury.

From a scientific standpoint, strength training isn't recommended until a player's growth plates have closed.

"Mr. Leite," Yang Hao began, "I can assure you that Atlético Madrid's decision to sign Kaká was carefully considered. His technique, speed, dedication, and character all convinced us that he has the potential to become an outstanding professional footballer."

Yang Hao didn't explain how he'd discovered Kaká. There was no way to make that story sound plausible—Kaká hadn't shown much on the field yet.

"Our club has recently gone through some turbulence, as you might have heard, but we're determined to rebuild. A big part of that strategy involves recruiting talented young players worldwide and developing them into top professionals."

"I can promise you that at Atlético Madrid, Kaká will have access to expert nutritionists, a professional coaching staff, and an advanced medical and training team to help him reach his full potential."

Yang Hao paused, then smiled warmly.

"Of course, given Kaká's current condition, he won't be expected to take on an important role right away. His body needs time to grow stronger, and he'll need to adapt to European football. That process could take a year or two, but that doesn't matter. What we value most is his future."

"So please rest assured—we're committed to helping Kaká become an excellent footballer!"

Yang Hao avoided making grandiose claims about turning Kaká into the best player in the world.

Even though it was true, saying so at this stage would have sounded ridiculous and only heightened the Leite family's concerns.

In Brazil, countless young players are tricked into leaving their country by unscrupulous "talent scouts" with empty promises. Yang Hao knew he had to appear genuine and methodical.

Despite his reassurances, the Leite family's worries weren't entirely eased.

"If you're concerned," Yang Hao suggested, "why not move to Spain with Kaká? Digan could join our youth academy at Atlético Madrid."

Compared to Kaká, Digan's talent was less impressive. But with Yang Hao's influence, arranging a spot for him in Atlético's academy was no problem.

"We can also help find suitable jobs for both of you," he added.

Although Portuguese is Brazil's official language, Spanish is widely understood, making it easier for Mrs. Leite, a teacher, to find work in Madrid.

Yang Hao's offer demonstrated Atlético Madrid's sincerity.

The Leites had little reason to refuse, especially since São Paulo had already accepted the €1 million transfer fee. This indicated that even the club wasn't overly confident in Kaká's future.

Ultimately, the chance to play in La Liga was too good to pass up.

With that realization, the Leite family agreed.

From the perspective of 2023, São Paulo FC was a treasure trove of talent.

For example, 20-year-old Luís Fabiano, a future Brazilian international striker, would go on to play for Porto and Sevilla. Though some called him Brazil's weakest starting striker, he was still a formidable player.

Then there was Edmílson, a future Barcelona player and a reliable defensive presence.

Not to mention Júlio Baptista, who would shine at Sevilla before playing for Real Madrid, Arsenal, and Roma.

Interestingly, many of São Paulo's players held dual citizenship—Italian or Spanish.

Yang Hao couldn't help but wonder how they managed it.

Without restrictions on foreign players, he could probably build a Champions League-caliber team entirely from Brazilian talent.

For now, though…

When building his team, Yang Hao adhered to a fundamental principle: hunger.

Players in their early 20s may lack experience, but they make up for it with boundless energy and a thirst for success. All they need is a coach willing to give them opportunities and to design tactics that maximize their unique skills.

Why was Van Gaal's Ajax team so unforgettable? Because it proved to the world the limitless potential of youth.

A team with an average age barely above 20 swept through Europe's elite clubs like a whirlwind. It wasn't just incredible—it was almost unbelievable.

Note this: Ajax's golden era didn't last just one season—it lasted two.

In the 1994/95 season, Ajax defeated Capello's mighty AC Milan to win the Champions League. This was the same AC Milan team that had thrashed Cruyff's "Dream Team" Barcelona 4–0 in the previous Champions League final.

In 1995/96, Ajax reached the final again but lost on penalties to Lippi's Juventus.

The same Juventus team went on to reach the next two Champions League finals, narrowly losing to Hitzfeld's Borussia Dortmund and Heynckes' Real Madrid.

In other words, Ajax's achievements were no fluke. They were forged in the crucible of European football's fiercest competition, earning immense respect and credibility.

During their two-year reign, Ajax wasn't just dominant—they were the highest-scoring team in the Champions League, bar none.

Yang Hao wanted to emulate Van Gaal's Ajax by building a young Atlético Madrid squad that could blaze a trail through Europe.

This ambition stemmed not only from Yang Hao's advantage as a time traveler but also from the harsh realities of Atlético's current situation.

The financial turmoil and upheaval from the previous season had shaken Atlético to its core.

Some might think: "Well, the team avoided relegation in the end, didn't they?"

Yes, but so what?

Does Atlético have money?

Without money, who's to say they won't face another financial crisis, relegation, or even bankruptcy?

Why were players like Valerón, Capdevila, and Pablo García so desperate to leave?

They didn't say it outright, but Yang Hao and the board knew the truth: they had no confidence in Atlético's finances.

Why did Cerezo and Miguel Gil feel compelled to make public guarantees and hold a press conference?

To calm the storm.

It's like a company that's survived a near-bankruptcy. If it loses its core business, wouldn't the remaining employees jump ship at the first opportunity?

Valerón might be a gentleman, but football is also his job. He plays to support himself and his family.

Perhaps once he's earned enough to achieve financial freedom, he might stay at Deportivo de La Coruña to fulfill personal dreams.

But for now?

Why did Pablo García leap at the chance to join AC Milan?

Not just because of the prestige of the Italian league but also because AC Milan is a club with history and stability—a safety net.

Fans might make decisions based on sentiment, but club directors, coaches, and players cannot afford to.

If Yang Hao had a choice, of course, he'd want to sign Ronaldinho, a player destined for greatness. But could he?

Even if Atlético sold everything they had to afford him, would Ronaldinho even look their way?

This is the cold, harsh reality of football: a world where the strong thrive, and the weak are left behind.

Yang Hao understood this, and so did Atlético Madrid.

Looking at the players Yang Hao had targeted—Van der Sar, Carvalho, Deco, Vicente, Joaquín—they all had one thing in common: they were on the verge of transformation.

Take Ricardo Carvalho, for example.

In Yang Hao's previous timeline, he would shine in the Portuguese league next season.

The same went for Vicente and Joaquín.

This proved that these players already had the quality to perform at a high level.

As for Kaká, he wasn't yet ready for Atlético's first team.

But Atlético's B team? They played in Spain's second division.

Yang Hao didn't come all the way to São Paulo just for Kaká. He also had his eye on two of Kaká's teammates.

The first was Juliano Belletti.

At nearly 24 years old, this Brazilian right-back had already proven his abilities. In 2002, he would become a World Cup champion.

What's interesting about Belletti is that he first made the Brazil national team at just 19, called up by Zagallo for a friendly against Argentina, though he didn't play.

This summer, Belletti was once again in Brazil's national team training camp—a regular invitee.

However, with Cafu dominating the right flank, Belletti, despite his immense talent and a future filled with club and international success, often played in his captain's shadow.

São Paulo valued Belletti at €4 million.

Then there was São Paulo's left-back, 20-year-old Fábio Aurélio.

It's likely many fans have forgotten this player who once dazzled the Spanish and European footballing world.

At just 22, he lit up Barcelona's Camp Nou, scored twice at Deportivo's Riazor Stadium, notched a goal and an assist in two matches against Real Madrid, and delivered stunning free-kick goals in La Liga.

That year, Europe agreed: Aurélio had the talent to rival Roberto Carlos.

But Aurélio had something Carlos didn't: youth. He was a full eight years younger, with enormous potential for the future.

Yet what happened next?

After his brief flash of brilliance, Fábio Aurélio encountered a bizarre medical mishap during his time at Valencia.

Called up by Brazil to prepare for the Confederations Cup due to his impressive form, Valencia informed the national team that Aurélio was dealing with a minor knee injury caused by fatigue and couldn't join the squad.

The Brazilian national team didn't believe it, so their medical staff assessed him personally—and found that, indeed, he was injured.

Initially, everyone thought it was just a minor issue, one that might heal before the Confederations Cup matches were over.

But who could have predicted that this minor knee problem would become a recurring injury? Under Valencia's incompetent medical care, Aurélio kept injuring the same knee over and over again. What started as a small issue eventually sidelined him for over a year.

Even after he finally recovered, his performances still showed flashes of brilliance. However, his fragility became a constant issue. Fed up, Valencia ultimately terminated his contract.

Rafa Benítez, then at Liverpool, immediately signed his old favorite.

Steven Gerrard once remarked that Aurélio had the potential to become a world-class left-back—but injuries derailed his career.

Aurélio's tragic story is just one of many examples of the damage caused by incompetent medical teams in La Liga.

This is why, during this summer's overhaul, Yang Hao planned to completely reform Atlético Madrid's medical department.

Aurélio had risen through Brazil's youth teams and was currently representing Brazil's U-23 squad as they prepared for the Sydney Olympics. His performances had already caught the attention of several European clubs, including Valencia.

With Yang Hao personally leading negotiations, Atlético Madrid successfully signed Aurélio for €4.5 million.

Yes, Belletti, Aurélio, and Kaká—three players for nearly €10 million.

Notably, both Belletti and Aurélio held dual citizenship in Brazil and Italy.

After securing these three players from São Paulo, Yang Hao didn't immediately return to Europe. Instead, he headed to Corinthians, another club in the same city.

At Corinthians, Yang Hao spent just €200,000 to sign 24-year-old midfielder Marcos Senna.

Senna hadn't made much of an impact at Corinthians and often played as a substitute.

However, his cousin, Assunção—renowned for his free-kicks—was a star player at Roma.

Corinthians was in dire financial straits and had no plans to keep Senna, so the negotiation process was quick and smooth. Yang Hao was in and out of the club within an hour.

After signing Senna, Yang Hao traveled south to Porto Alegre, in Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul. There, at Internacional, he spent €3 million to sign Brazil U-23 center-back Lúcio.

Unlike the high price paid for Aurélio, Lúcio wasn't a starter for Brazil's U-23 squad. However, his extraordinary physical attributes made his potential evident to the naked eye.

Players like Lúcio, with his raw talent and athleticism, represented a clear opportunity. Yang Hao had to put in some effort to convince Internacional to part with him, but he ultimately succeeded.

From there, Yang Hao returned north to Rio de Janeiro, and then continued west to Belo Horizonte, in the neighboring state of Minas Gerais. At Cruzeiro's academy, he paid €1 million to sign Maicon.

Throughout the entire process, Paco Casal accompanied Yang Hao. As an agent, Casal would be involved in facilitating these transfers and would earn a commission. However, even he couldn't quite figure out Yang Hao's strategy.

From Casal's perspective, Yang Hao's scouting mission seemed highly purposeful—almost as if he already knew exactly which players he wanted.

But Casal couldn't help but ask himself: Were all these players really meant to play for Atlético Madrid?

When Yang Hao returned to Rio de Janeiro and prepared to fly back to Europe, Casal finally couldn't resist voicing his curiosity.

"You've been holding that question in for a while, haven't you?" Yang Hao chuckled.

After a brief pause, he explained, "Our reserve team plays in Spain's Segunda División. It's allowed to have three foreign players."

Foreign players registered in the reserve team could play for the first team, though only for a limited number of matches. Once they exceeded 10 appearances, they would need to be re-registered with the first team.

Meanwhile, foreign players in the youth teams had no restrictions—but they couldn't play for the first team or reserves.

More importantly, foreign players could apply for Spanish citizenship after playing in Spain for four years. For players from Spanish-speaking countries, this period was reduced to two years.

Thus, Yang Hao's scouting trip to Brazil posed no significant logistical issues.

For example, players like Kaká, Maicon, and Marcos Senna were all likely to start their European careers with Atlético's reserve team in the Segunda División.

This left room for Lúcio and Adriano to be registered as first-team players.

While Yang Hao was still in Brazil, Atlético Madrid, under the management of Paulo Futre, successfully exchanged Santiago Solari with Real Madrid for Argentine midfielder Esteban Cambiasso.

Cambiasso had joined Real Madrid in 1996 and spent two seasons in the youth team before being loaned to Argentina's Independiente for two years. His performances there were impressive, showcasing significant potential.

However, Real Madrid's current focus was clearly not on developing their youth players but on acquiring global superstars. Both Florentino Pérez and Lorenzo Sanz were fixated on signing big names, leaving players like Cambiasso overlooked.

This summer, Real Madrid made headlines by signing local striker Pedro Munitis from Racing Santander for €13.5 million. They also opened negotiations with Atlético for Solari's transfer.

Solari, an established player and Argentina international, had long expressed his desire to join Real Madrid. Before departing for Brazil, Yang Hao instructed Paulo Futre to secure Cambiasso in a direct exchange deal.

For Real Madrid, Solari, a seasoned professional, was far more valuable than the yet-to-blossom Cambiasso. The deal was swiftly agreed upon, and Cambiasso joined Atlético.

Meanwhile, Real Sociedad's coach Javier Clemente had been a long-time admirer of Jordi Lardín, dating back to his tenure with the Spanish U-21 and national teams.

Real Sociedad had narrowly avoided relegation last season, and Clemente was keen to strengthen their wing play with Lardín.

When Paulo Futre mentioned this to Yang Hao during a call, Yang Hao immediately instructed him to propose another exchange—Lardín for a young midfielder, Xabi Alonso, who was underappreciated at Real Sociedad.

Lardín, a Spanish international and one of Clemente's favorites, was far more valuable to the coach than Xabi Alonso, a youth team player.

Thus, with Clemente's approval, Real Sociedad agreed to the swap. Atlético Madrid secured Xabi Alonso in exchange for Lardín.

As Yang Hao prepared to return to Europe, negotiations with Chelsea over Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink finally reached a conclusion.

Both sides made concessions, with Chelsea agreeing to pay €30 million for the Dutch striker.

Hasselbaink, the reigning La Liga Golden Boot winner and a member of the league's Best XI, had been one of the few bright spots in Atlético's tumultuous season.

His consistent scoring record, both at Leeds United and Atlético, made him a highly sought-after player. Chelsea urgently needed a prolific scorer like Hasselbaink.

Initially, Atlético's high asking price deterred several clubs, including Leeds. Protracted negotiations eventually saw Hasselbaink publicly express his desire to leave for the Premier League, forcing Atlético to compromise.

In the end, the €30 million deal was finalized, and Hasselbaink returned to England.

Soon after, Middlesbrough announced the permanent signing of Juninho Paulista from Atlético for €10 million.

With significant funds in hand after these sales, Atlético immediately targeted Espanyol's central defender Mauricio Pochettino, a player personally recommended by Yang Hao.

Pochettino's appeal wasn't due to his future managerial potential but rather his tactical suitability for Yang Hao's system and his extensive experience.

While young talents like Lúcio, Ricardo Carvalho, and Santi Denia showed promise, Yang Hao knew he couldn't rely solely on them throughout a long season. Injuries and fixture congestion would inevitably demand depth.

Although Atlético approached Milan for Roberto Ayala, the Argentine defender chose Valencia instead, seeking a team with Champions League aspirations.

Faced with limited options, Atlético turned to Pochettino.

While not an elite defender like Ayala, Pochettino was more than capable of holding his own in La Liga and as a backup in European competitions. Moreover, his playing style perfectly aligned with Yang Hao's tactical demands.

Espanyol, struggling financially, couldn't afford to keep Pochettino and proposed a player exchange involving José Luque.

After consulting with Yang Hao, Paulo Futre agreed to the deal, and Pochettino joined Atlético.

From Sevilla to Real Betis, Real Madrid to Real Sociedad, and now Espanyol, the Spanish media were abuzz with Atlético's unconventional transfer strategy.

Despite significant income from player sales, most of their activity involved exchanges.

Why weren't they spending big on signings?

The answer soon became clear.

On the same day Yang Hao returned to Europe, Atlético Madrid announced the signing of Danish midfielder Thomas Gravesen from Hamburg for €2.5 million.

The 24-year-old had been a consistent starter for Hamburg over three seasons, helping them secure a third-place finish in the Bundesliga. Despite his contributions, Gravesen's importance was often overlooked.

As Yang Hao had previously noted, Europe's football landscape had largely underestimated the value of playmaking midfielders. Gravesen, though recognized as one of the Bundesliga's best foreign players by Kicker magazine, struggled to gain widespread attention.

Contract renewal negotiations with Hamburg stalled, allowing Atlético to swoop in. After a persuasive phone call from Yang Hao, Gravesen agreed to the move.

Unlike his low-key departure to Brazil, Yang Hao's return to Spain was met with a media frenzy at Madrid's airport.

Reporters swarmed him with questions, the most pressing being:

"It's already late June, and Atlético Madrid has only made two official signings—Vicente from Levante and Gravesen from Hamburg. Does this mean there are no further plans for new signings?"

Yang Hao paused briefly, then smiled confidently.

"Who says we're done? Some of the best deals are made last."

Yang Hao had just endured a long flight and was physically and mentally exhausted, but he still mustered his energy to deal with the swarm of media reporters waiting for him.

"I want to assure everyone that our summer transfer spending won't be small," Yang Hao began with a smile. "Many transfers are in progress but haven't reached the stage where they can be announced. What I can promise is that we'll bring in younger, more competitive players."

The strategy was clear: integrate young talents alongside experienced players.

"Mr. Yang, there are rumors that Valencia is preparing to increase their offer for Rubén Baraja. What's your view on this?" one reporter asked.

Yang Hao chuckled. "I've kept in close contact with Rubén. We've had several conversations and talked about many things. I understand his concerns and considerations, and I'll respect his decision."

"But let me clarify one thing," he continued with a serious tone. "We've never actively sold any players."

Yang Hao expressed frustration with the media's narrative, which he felt had unfairly portrayed Atlético Madrid as recklessly selling players and misleading their fan base.

"Regarding Rubén, I've made it very clear to him that both the team and I need him to stay. Even if Valencia offers a higher price, as long as he chooses to stay and move forward with us, we'll reject the offer outright."

Yang Hao then shifted the discussion to the club's finances.

"As many of you may have noticed, we've recently signed a sponsorship deal with Emirates Airlines for our shirt front. This partnership will bring in €3 million per season."

"Our marketing team is also actively working on other sponsorship deals. The club's overall revenue will see a significant improvement, meaning we don't need to sell players to survive. On the contrary, we need to retain our players to ensure competitiveness."

That said, Yang Hao admitted he regretted not being able to keep every player on the team.

The reporters then turned to one of the hottest topics in Spanish football that summer: the Real Madrid presidential election.

Amusingly, whether due to media hype or the mudslinging between the candidates, Yang Hao had somehow become a focal point in their campaigns.

The situation stemmed from an earlier jab by Lorenzo Sanz, who criticized Florentino Pérez for "not understanding football."

This dig referred to a previous comment where Florentino had mocked Yang Hao, calling him a "fraud." But as it turned out, Yang Hao had miraculously led Atlético Madrid to avoid relegation and even secured the Copa del Rey.

This was a direct jab at Florentino's failed prediction and an attack on his perceived weaknesses. But Florentino wasn't one to back down.

On one front, he announced his partnership with Jorge Valdano—a world-class coach and Real Madrid legend. On another, he fired back at Sanz by pointing out Real Madrid's lack of competitiveness under his leadership, which had led to their embarrassing Copa del Rey final defeat against cross-town rivals Atlético.

"Even now, I stand by my words: Yang Hao is a fraud," Florentino declared. "Perhaps he succeeded in keeping Atlético up, but he's never truly proven himself. The gap between him and real success is about the same as the distance from Spain to the Chinese capital."

Florentino further argued that under his leadership, such failures would never happen.

"We are Real Madrid, the best club in the world. We should have the best players in the world—like Luís Figo, Zinedine Zidane, or Ronaldo."

"Our mission is to bring the world's best players to the Santiago Bernabéu and deliver the most beautiful football. That is what Real Madrid represents!"

Thus, the two presidential candidates kept dragging Yang Hao's name into their feud, using him as a proxy in their battle for dominance.

Even though Yang Hao was in Brazil at the time, he heard bits and pieces of the commotion. However, he never expected the controversy to snowball into such a massive story across Spain and Europe.

When reporters at the airport asked for his reaction, Yang Hao, clearly exasperated, quipped, "Can I charge them royalties for using my name and image rights?"

The reporters were hoping Yang Hao would take the bait and escalate the drama, but he refused to fall into their trap.

"All I want to say is this: whether the next president of Real Madrid is Florentino Pérez or Lorenzo Sanz, it makes no difference to me or Atlético Madrid. Our goals remain unchanged, even if they've just won the Champions League."

He concluded with a confident smile.

"In the new La Liga season, we'll perform better than Real Madrid!"

 "Leo and his team had a highly productive trip to the Middle East."

On the highway from Madrid's main airport to Majadahonda, Miguel Gil, who had personally come to pick up Yang Hao, appeared particularly upbeat. The club's management overhaul was progressing smoothly.

As Yang Hao had emphasized before, "Leave specialized tasks to the professionals."

After about a month of restructuring, Atlético Madrid had stabilized. Departments had clearer roles, and responsibilities were more defined. This had lightened Miguel Gil's workload significantly, freeing him up to personally greet Yang Hao at the airport.

"Leo has gained even more admiration for you," Miguel said, beaming. "He described the Middle East as 'strewn with gold.' Apparently, companies there are very eager to sponsor European clubs. We've also decided to play a friendly in Dubai during the winter break."

While the opponent had yet to be confirmed, the match was certain to generate substantial appearance fees.

Describing the region as "strewn with gold" might be an exaggeration, but globally—whether in the Middle East, Asia, South America, or Africa—Europe and the United States were often perceived as dream destinations.

Yang Hao, drawing from his past life experiences, understood this dynamic all too well. For European football clubs, the Middle East represented an untapped market. Atlético Madrid, being one of the first to tap into it, had secured a lucrative deal with Emirates Airlines.

"Carlos Leo is exceptionally capable," Yang Hao praised.

While Yang Hao had merely pointed in a direction, Leo successfully closed the sponsorship deal—a testament to his talent.

"Don't be so modest," Miguel laughed. "Leo himself said that without your guidance, he wouldn't have thought of targeting the Middle East. And look at us now—a jersey sponsor deal signed in such a short time!"

Miguel was grinning ear to ear, exuding the vibe of newfound fortune.

Yang Hao found his excitement amusing. "It's only €3 million. Is it worth all this fuss?"

"Of course! Do you know that even Real Madrid couldn't secure a sponsor?"

"What? How's that possible?" Yang Hao asked, genuinely surprised.

"You've been in Brazil, so you might've missed the news," Miguel began, relishing the tale. "Real Madrid's jerseys will advertise their own website next season. Officially, they claim it's to promote their digital platform, but the truth is, they couldn't find a sponsor."

"No way," Yang Hao said incredulously. "Wasn't their previous sponsor Teka? Did they end the partnership?"

Teka, a prominent European manufacturer of kitchen and bathroom appliances, had sponsored Real Madrid for two years, with their contract ending in the summer of 2000.

"They didn't renew," Miguel confirmed, clearly relishing Real Madrid's misfortune. "Some say it's because Madrid demanded too much money. After two Champions League titles in three years, they probably thought they could raise their sponsorship fees. But Teka wasn't interested."

"Others suggest it's because Teka didn't get enough return on their investment. Especially after Madrid's poor performance last season—at one point, they were mid-table. Teka wasn't happy about that."

Yang Hao pondered. Perhaps it was a combination of both factors.

"If you ask me," Miguel added gleefully, "Madrid's strategy is to wait for sponsors to come to them. If no one bites, they'll just use their own website as a placeholder."

In contrast, Atlético Madrid's proactive approach to securing sponsorship was far more pragmatic.

Now, Atlético had jersey sponsors, while Real Madrid was left "bare."

The thought made Miguel admire Yang Hao even more.

"Leo said this deal with Emirates Airlines is just a starting point. If the team performs well, they're likely to increase their sponsorship investment. So, we need to deliver great results on the pitch."

Miguel's optimism had grown into ambition.

Yang Hao found this shift encouraging. After all, ambition was vital for progress.

"Don't worry. I'm confident in our squad for the new season," Yang Hao assured him.

While Atlético's summer transfer window had been profitable—bringing in significant funds from the sales of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (€30 million) and others—media outlets were overwhelmingly pessimistic about the team's prospects.

With star players departing, the incoming signings lacked the same star power. Previously, Atlético had attracted players like Hasselbaink, Joan Capdevila, and Juan Carlos Valerón—all big names in football. But now?

Who even knew Thomas Gravesen?

And Edwin van der Sar? His time in Serie A had been disastrous.

Rumors swirled that Atlético Madrid had been reduced to scavenging other clubs' castoffs.

Yang Hao remained unfazed. In his mind, the most critical work lay beyond player transfers.

He reiterated the importance of partnerships with institutions like the University of Madrid's medical school to establish advanced labs for injury prevention and treatment—a cornerstone for the club's future.

Additionally, the scouting system and youth academy overhaul were high priorities. Yang Hao and Juanma Lillo had already drafted a comprehensive plan for restructuring the youth system.

For the B team, Yang Hao proposed selling players over 23 years old to focus on developing younger talent. The B team's purpose wasn't to chase results but to nurture players for the first team.

This principle would extend to all youth teams.

Yang Hao also outlined a cohesive tactical philosophy for Atlético Madrid's teams, emphasizing high-tempo pressing and fluid passing—a style aligning with modern football trends.

He appointed Juanma Lillo as Atlético's youth advisor, ensuring tactical alignment across the first team, B team, and youth squads.

This unified vision was the cornerstone of Yang Hao's long-term blueprint for Atlético Madrid

Yang Hao introduced a concept that, twenty years later, would become widely adopted by numerous football clubs—a unified training system.

What does this mean?

Take Atlético Madrid's Majadahonda training base, for example. There were only a few pitches, but the youth academy had several teams. Traditionally, training was scheduled in shifts.

For instance:

While the U19s trained, the U17s would warm up on the sidelines.

Meanwhile, the U15s would have already finished and left the field.

This segmentation inevitably created silos. Each age group's coach would instill their own style, leading to a significant issue:

When a U15 player moved up to the U17s, it felt like joining an entirely new team. They needed time to adapt to the new environment, tactics, and teammates.

The Unified Training Solution

Yang Hao's proposal was entirely different:

Aligned Coaching Philosophies

Coaches for all age groups would be selected based on shared tactical ideologies. A youth training advisor—Juanma Lillo—would oversee training programs and maintain consistency.

Joint Training Sessions

Every month, teams from adjacent age groups would train and scrimmage together. Coaches would also rotate across groups.

Benefits of the Unified Approach

Familiarity: Players and coaches got to know each other well, making transitions seamless.

Internal Scouting: Coaches could identify promising players early across age groups.

Consistency: Training environments and methods remained uniform, ensuring smooth development from U7 to U19.

With such a system, players developed in a consistent framework, creating a pipeline of talent ready to transition smoothly into senior football.

By 2023, this model had become standard across Spain and Europe, proving its effectiveness.

When Yang Hao first proposed it, Juanma Lillo was astounded, describing it as revolutionary. He couldn't wait to test its feasibility. If successful, it could become a transformational blueprint for football academies worldwide.

Back at Majadahonda

Upon returning to Majadahonda, Yang Hao dove straight into work.

Updates on Youth Academy Reforms

Juanma Lillo provided a detailed report on progress, especially regarding the selection and hiring of new coaches—a critical phase of the overhaul.

With Miguel Gil's support for increased investment in youth development, Yang Hao knew he needed to deliver tangible results.

Introducing Two New Fitness Coaches

Yang Hao also met his two newly appointed fitness coaches, both personally selected for their expertise:

Albert Roca

A Catalan with ties to Atlético, having played for the club for two seasons before retiring in 1992.

After his playing career, he pursued sports education and sports science at the University of Barcelona and later studied sports psychology at Madrid University.

His coaching experience was modest, primarily in lower leagues.

Yang Hao admired Roca for his later achievements as Frank Rijkaard's fitness coach at Barcelona and his innovative mindset. Notably, Roca had created a personal website early in his career and was open to new ideas.

Yang Hao tasked Roca with developing a system to collect, analyze, and model player fitness data, enabling the coaching staff to monitor and manage players' physical conditions effectively.

Óscar Ortega

At 42 years old, Ortega was no stranger to Atlético fans as the future fitness coach under Diego Simeone.

Ortega had extensive experience working in countries like Mexico, Colombia, and Japan. Before joining Atlético, he worked with Sevilla's rugby team as a fitness coach.

Yang Hao valued Ortega for his proven ability to optimize player endurance and performance, evident in the teams of Luis Aragonés and Simeone.

Other Key Staff Members

The fitness coaches joined Yang Hao's core coaching team, which already included:

Pedro Jaro (Goalkeeper Coach)

Parralés (Head Physio)

Juanma Lillo (Youth Development Advisor)

Yang Hao was also considering hiring a data analyst, potentially collaborating with Madrid University to explore cutting-edge data-driven insights.

This coaching setup, combined with his strategic reforms, laid the foundation for Atlético Madrid's revival and long-term success.

June 25.

Another weekend.

The Real Madrid Sports City, located in the northern part of Madrid, was bustling with activity.

The annual Real Madrid youth academy trials had drawn young players from across Spain, along with their parents and agents. The old facility was packed with hopefuls eager to make an impression.

Across the street, in a McDonald's directly facing the Sports City, Yang Hao sat by a window, observing the ebb and flow of people.

Opposite him sat Parralés, looking utterly confused.

Since returning from Brazil, Yang Hao had been buried in work, but today, for reasons unknown, he insisted on sitting here, staring at Real Madrid's youth academy trials.

"What are we doing here, boss? If a journalist spots you, this is going to be front-page news," Parralés joked, attempting to break the silence.

A rival club's manager lurking around during their youth trials? That was definitely going to cause a stir.

Yang Hao glanced at him briefly, then returned to his silent observation.

Parralés knew better than to press further. He had learned that Yang Hao would only explain when the time was right.

Time passed as they sipped through two rounds of soda refills. The bustling streets outside showed no signs of slowing. Finally, close to noon, Yang Hao moved.

"Parralés, do you see that group of three?" Yang Hao pointed to a trio leaving the Sports City—a boy, his father, and what seemed to be an agent.

Parralés followed the gesture and quickly identified them. "Got it. What should I do?"

"Take my card. Approach them and tell them I admire the boy's talent. Invite him to Atlético for a trial."

"What?" Parralés was taken aback.

He had no clue who these three were. Yang Hao couldn't have seen the boy play—there was no way.

Glancing at the boy in question, Parralés noted his small stature and slight build. In a sport where physicality was critical, this kid didn't seem to have much to offer.

Still, despite his doubts, Parralés followed orders, leaving the McDonald's to approach the trio.

A Missed Opportunity

Fernando Giménez Silva walked out of the Real Madrid Sports City feeling a deep sense of disappointment.

His son, David Silva, trailed behind, casting wistful glances back at the gates of Real Madrid's youth academy, as if hoping for a miracle—a call to return and continue the trials.

But no miracle came.

"Let's go, David. If Real Madrid couldn't see your potential, that's their loss. We'll keep working hard and try with other teams back home. Just like Beñat Etxebarria did," Fernando consoled his son.

At just 14 years old, David Silva, like most kids from the Canary Islands, was a diehard Real Madrid fan. Joining Real Madrid's youth academy had been his dream.

David had excelled in his local youth school and earned a recommendation to trial at Real Madrid. He passed the first round, but during the second, the academy coaches deemed him too short and slight, lacking the physical attributes needed for professional football.

David Silva hailed from Arguineguín, a small fishing village under Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. The village was proud of its local hero, Juan Carlos Valerón, who had played for Atlético Madrid and was rumored to be joining Deportivo La Coruña for a €20 million transfer.

For kids like David Silva, the dream was clear:

Start with a local team like Las Palmas, then seize an opportunity to play on the European mainland—just like Valerón.

"Fernando's right, David," the agent chimed in. "I'll reach out to Las Palmas and arrange a trial. If you work hard, you'll get another chance at Real Madrid someday."

Both adults knew this was mere consolation.

Even if David joined Real Madrid now, there was no guarantee of making the first team. But failing to even join the academy felt like a damning verdict on his potential.

Fernando Silva sighed. "Let's head back to the hotel and book our tickets home."

David turned once more to gaze at the Real Madrid crest on the gates—a symbol of his crushed dream.

A Surprising Opportunity

As the trio crossed the street, they were approached by a young man with a friendly smile.

"Hello! I work for Atlético Madrid," said Parralés.

Fernando Silva and his companions froze, staring at him in disbelief.

This was right in front of Real Madrid's Sports City—what was an Atlético representative doing here?

"Our head coach, Yang Hao, has taken notice of your son. He sees great potential in him and would like to invite him for a trial at Atlético," Parralés said confidently.

"Yang Hao? The coach Valerón praised so highly?" Fernando Silva was astonished.

"Yes, that Yang Hao," Parralés confirmed with a nod.

Fernando Silva looked at his son, then back at Parralés, still struggling to process what he had just heard.

"You're saying Yang Hao—the same coach who saved Atlético from relegation—wants David?"

"Absolutely," Parralés said with a warm smile.

Fernando Silva was overwhelmed with emotion, while David Silva's eyes lit up with renewed hope.

For a boy who had just been rejected by Real Madrid, this was a lifeline.

"Let's talk," Fernando finally said, his voice tinged with both disbelief and excitement.

And just like that, David Silva's journey to becoming a world-class midfielder began—not at Real Madrid, but at their fiercest rivals, Atlético Madrid.

The trio exchanged puzzled glances, struggling to comprehend the situation.

Just moments ago, Real Madrid had rejected them. Now, as they stepped outside, Atlético Madrid had shown interest.

What was going on?

"Wait a minute. When did Yang Hao see David play?" Fernando Giménez Silva, a police officer by trade and naturally cautious, raised the question with logical precision.

"Honestly, I don't know," Parralés admitted with a sheepish smile.

He genuinely had no idea and was just as bewildered.

But knowing Yang Hao, there was no way to guess his reasoning unless he decided to explain.

Fernando took the business card from Parralés, realizing the whole situation felt odd. Still, this was an opportunity. Since they were already in Madrid, why not give it a shot at Atlético?

As Parralés walked away, Fernando looked at his son, then at the agent, who nodded encouragingly.

"David, shall we give Atlético a try?"

Young David Silva, still processing his rejection from Real Madrid, quickly shifted his mindset. Staying in Madrid and training with Atlético didn't sound like a bad consolation prize.

Fernando didn't waste time. He pulled out his phone and dialed Juan Carlos Valerón, a family acquaintance who was currently playing for Spain in the ongoing European Championship. That night, Spain was set to face France in the quarterfinals.

Although Valerón wasn't a starter, it was close to midday, and he had time to answer the call.

Upon hearing that little Silva had come to Madrid, only to be rejected by Real Madrid, Valerón was indignant. He had seen David play before and knew the boy's talent.

When told that Yang Hao had taken an interest in David and invited him to Atlético, Valerón couldn't help but praise Yang Hao enthusiastically. He assured Fernando that Atlético, under Yang Hao's leadership, was undergoing a complete transformation.

"Trust me, Fernando. Going to Atlético will be a fantastic choice," Valerón said with confidence.

It wasn't just blind faith in Yang Hao as a coach. The fact that Yang Hao was also a shareholder of Atlético carried significant weight for Valerón.

After hanging up, Valerón immediately called Yang Hao.

At that moment, Yang Hao was still seated in the McDonald's, watching Fernando on the phone from across the street.

When Valerón called, Yang Hao confirmed his interest in David Silva, praising his potential and skills. Buoyed by Valerón's recommendation, Yang Hao decided to skip the trial process altogether.

"Tell them to come directly to Atlético. We'll cover room, board, and even provide a monthly stipend," Yang Hao said cheerfully.

Valerón was delighted, thinking his recommendation had sealed the deal. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to Yang Hao.

After ending the call, Yang Hao observed as Fernando received the news and shared it with the agent. After a brief discussion, they decided to head to Atlético's training ground that afternoon.

Watching the trio walk away, Yang Hao finally stood up, stretched, and smiled to himself.

Spending the entire morning at McDonald's to secure a future world-class midfielder—was it worth it? Absolutely.

The Mystery

As they left the restaurant, Parralés couldn't contain his curiosity any longer.

"Boss, how on earth did you know that kid, David Silva, had football talent? I didn't see anything special about him."

Yang Hao smirked. "If you could tell, then you'd be Atlético's head coach, not me."

"But seriously, how did you know?" Parralés pressed.

"Do you really think I'm going to tell you something so secret?"

Parralés paused. That logic made a frustrating amount of sense.

"Listen, José. Not everything in this world has a clear, step-by-step explanation," Yang Hao began.

"Take what happened today, for instance. Decades from now, if David Silva doesn't make it big, no one will remember this. But if he becomes a star, people will tell this story for years. They'll talk about how you handed over my business card—it'll become legendary. Get it?"

Parralés looked bewildered, caught somewhere between understanding and confusion.

Yang Hao chuckled and dropped the subject.

The truth was, countless moments like this happened all the time. Most simply went unnoticed.

Just like no one currently cared that Atlético had quietly spent €600,000 signing a 19-year-old French forward, Patrice Evra, from Italian Serie B side Monza.

To the world at large, it was an insignificant detail, far too minor to even register.

Is wielding sole authority a good thing?

Power is thrilling, but it also brings responsibility.

These days, Yang Hao's schedule was packed to the brim. His day was a whirlwind of tasks: discussing summer training plans with his coaching staff, inspecting the training facilities' locker room renovations, and overseeing upgrades to the home team's dressing room at the Calderón Stadium.

While Atlético was generously funding these projects, Madrid University was equally eager about their partnership. Negotiations had gone smoothly, and the collaboration was moving ahead at full speed.

Who was responsible for coordination? Naturally, it fell to Yang Hao.

His biggest headache, however, was the overhaul of the youth academy. Cutting overage players was easy enough, but firing long-time employees who were essentially deadweight proved far trickier.

Professional football, after all, was a deeply personal business.

Who knew what strings some of the staff at Mahadahonda had pulled to get their jobs in the first place?

Huánma Lillo didn't have the clout to handle such matters. When faced with pushback, he could only escalate the problem to Yang Hao, who had no choice but to push through unpopular decisions—alienating many, including some of Atlético's long-standing heroes.

Soon, the media caught wind of the discontent and began taking shots at Yang Hao. Stories surfaced, painting a picture of Atlético as a club in chaos.

Critics said the club's summer transfers were questionable. Every official signing announcement seemed to feature unknown players, prompting fans and pundits alike to wonder: Is Atlético even trying to stay in La Liga?

With former club legends also speaking out against him, Yang Hao found himself under immense pressure.

The club's public relations team worked tirelessly to calm the situation, but the sheer volume of controversies made it nearly impossible to handle. After all, Yang Hao's actions had touched a lot of nerves and disrupted many comfort zones.

Finally, Enrique Cerezo and Miguel Gil convened a meeting with department heads.

At the meeting, Yang Hao made his stance clear: "You'll get used to being criticized after a while."

He wasn't naïve. Challenging vested interests often provoked more backlash than questioning someone's deepest beliefs.

But Yang Hao believed it was worth it.

For example, the partnership with Madrid University was groundbreaking. While the media and fans largely ignored the deal, even Atlético's board was skeptical.

"Why spend money on this when it could be used to sign players?"

When did Spanish football finally wake up to the dangers of injuries and its outdated medical practices? Not until the 2006/07 season.

In just the first three months of that season, by November, 60 La Liga players had suffered major injuries.

That's major injuries.

Those who missed just one or two games didn't even make the count.

Yang Hao remembered it vividly. At the time, Spanish media even created an entire "injured XI."

Samuel Eto'o: 4 months (meniscus tear)

Nihat Kahveci: 6 months (ACL tear)

Lionel Messi: 3 months (metatarsal fracture)

Juan Carlos Valerón: 7 months (ACL tear)

Martin Petrov: 6 months (ACL tear)

Cicinho: 7 months (ACL tear)

Gonzalo Rodríguez: 7 months (ACL tear)

And that was just the starting XI. The bench wasn't spared either:

Robert Pires: 7 months (ACL tear)

Maxi Rodríguez: 6 months (ACL tear)

The situation caused a massive outcry in Spanish football, sparking introspection across La Liga. Why were there so many knee injuries?

That turning point led to a wave of investment in medical infrastructure, the dismissal of incompetent medical staff, and the recruitment of top-tier professionals and equipment.

This shift paved the way for the longevity of stars like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Luka Modric in later years.

Yang Hao knew that football's medical shortcomings stemmed from its insularity. His solution? Open the doors.

By collaborating with experts and attracting external talent, Atlético could bridge the gap.

Of course, this was a bitter pill for many to swallow.

For them, clubs operated like old boys' networks. Retired legends could seamlessly step into youth team roles, first-team coaching positions, or even director-level jobs—all without formal training.

Why?

"Because they're legends!"

Fans didn't question this logic either, considering it fair recompense for a player's contributions.

But was it right?

"I'll make it clear right now: As long as I'm in charge at Atlético, no one gets a job at Mahadahonda without passing a competency test. I will not tolerate idlers!" Yang Hao's voice was resolute.

"If anyone here thinks I'm being unreasonable, you're free to file a complaint or even fire me!"

Yang Hao's words were like a hammer striking the room.

Everyone present knew these problems existed, but most chose to ignore them, accepting them as part of football's intricate web of relationships.

But Yang Hao had made his position clear: "I won't play by these rules."

After the meeting, the three principal shareholders—Yang Hao, Miguel Gil, and Enrique Cerezo—held a private discussion.

Both Gil and Cerezo couldn't stop thanking Yang Hao.

Such deeply entrenched issues weren't unique to Atlético. These dynamics had been around for as long as football itself.

To be frank, how had Paulo Futre ended up as Atlético's sporting director in the first place?

In the past, Atlético simply had no other choice. They knew they were being bled dry, but what could they do? Someone had to handle the job, after all.

Yang Hao's willingness to address these problems head-on was not only rare but desperately needed.

With Yang Hao taking the lead on controversial decisions, pressure on others within the club eased significantly.

One thing was clear: if Yang Hao wasn't a club shareholder and merely the head coach, he wouldn't bother meddling in these issues. "Let them do as they please—it has nothing to do with me."

"Don't worry, we'll speak out soon and fully support you!" Miguel Gil and Enrique Cerezo expressed their firm backing.

As shareholders, they understood better than anyone the long-term benefits of Yang Hao's initiatives.

"I can guarantee," Yang Hao said resolutely, "the more criticism I endure now, the greater Atlético's future rewards will be."

Gil and Cerezo reaffirmed their commitment to backing Yang Hao.

"Things seem manageable at the moment, but I'm worried about the season," Miguel Gil said, his expression clouded. "If the results don't meet expectations..."

He didn't hide his doubts about the players Yang Hao had brought in—most of whom were unknowns. The biggest name was Van der Sar, whose performance in Italy had been dismal.

"Trust me," Yang Hao said with confidence. "They'll prove their worth on the pitch."

If money was no object, efficiency could skyrocket.

Madrid University showed great enthusiasm for its partnership with Atlético. At Yang Hao's request, they assembled a team of renowned Spanish and European experts to begin work at Mahadahonda.

The experts were particularly intrigued by Yang Hao's assertion: "With enough data samples, many outcomes can be predicted."

The project would focus on three pillars: data analysis, scientific training, and psychological support.

The most challenging of these was data analysis, an unprecedented undertaking in football at the time. Scientific training, in contrast, would rely on insights gleaned from precise data analysis.

Yang Hao urged the experts to start collecting comprehensive player data during the team's preseason training. Their task would be to integrate into the preseason preparations, establish a system for monitoring and managing player data, and create analytical tools to inform decision-making.

The timeline was tight, and the work was demanding.

Taking on the role of a demanding project owner, Yang Hao set strict deadlines for the experts and technical staff, emphasizing that their work was vital for the upcoming season.

As for equipment like GPS tracking devices and related systems? Atlético would procure them immediately.

Beyond the Madrid University partnership, Yang Hao introduced other innovative projects to Atlético.

One standout was the cold chamber.

Cryotherapy, or ice baths, had become common practice in football by 2023. Erling Haaland, for instance, credited regular ice baths for his dominance at Manchester City.

The concept originated in American sports and had since spread globally. A cold chamber allows players to take full-body or localized ice baths, sometimes even doing yoga inside. Temperatures can reach as low as -200°C, requiring users to wear protective gloves during use.

The benefits of cryotherapy include:

Constricting blood vessels to reduce inflammation, muscle damage, swelling, and pain.

Accelerating recovery after matches and training.

Boosting circulation, improving the immune system, and aiding wound healing.

However, cold chambers also come with risks. Misuse, such as extended exposure, can lead to frostbite. Typically, sessions are limited to five minutes.

When Yang Hao proposed installing a cold chamber, the expert team was enthusiastic. They assured him that achieving uniform cooling using liquid nitrogen would be straightforward.

Reassured, Yang Hao saw yet another step toward preparing Atlético for a successful season.

For Yang Hao, the foundation for success lay in logistical support.

From medical care to physiotherapy, from nutrition to accommodations—every aspect needed to be seamless.

If the players could focus entirely on training and matches without distractions, Yang Hao believed Atlético would shock Spain in the upcoming season.

He envisioned silencing his critics, forcing them to swallow every insult they had hurled.

While Yang Hao was engrossed in transforming Atlético, time marched on into July.

The European Championship concluded with Zinedine Zidane leading France to victory over Italy in the final. Following their World Cup triumph, this marked another peak in French football history.

Zidane's individual prestige soared to new heights.

Meanwhile, in Madrid, the highly anticipated Real Madrid presidential election came to a dramatic conclusion.

With a campaign centered on marquee signings—including Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane—Florentino Pérez easily defeated Lorenzo Sanz.

Florentino Pérez officially took over as Real Madrid president.

His first order of business? Announce plans to sign Figo from Barcelona, Zidane from Juventus, and both Arsène Wenger and Patrick Vieira from Arsenal.

He was determined to build a team where every player and coach was a global superstar: the Galácticos.

This marked the fourth presidential election in Real Madrid's history.

A single statistic encapsulated Florentino Pérez's overwhelming support among club members: the turnout rate.

Out of over 50,000 Real Madrid members, 40,000 voted, making it the highest participation rate in the club's history. Florentino's victory was nearly unanimous.

Yang Hao wasn't surprised by the result. Instead, he found Lorenzo Sanz to be a textbook example of self-sabotage.

Sanz epitomized the outdated leadership still prevalent across much of European football.

Originally set to complete his term in 2002, Sanz misread the situation after Real Madrid's erratic season. The team's resurgence in the Champions League and Copa del Rey gave him the illusion of secure re-election.

But how could he make such a critical decision without conducting any sort of public opinion survey?

Even a basic third-party questionnaire could have warned him.

When Real Madrid announced its election, Florentino, long waiting in the wings, launched his campaign with full force. He targeted Sanz's biggest weakness: poor club management.

Management was Florentino's forte.

Moreover, Florentino's strategy hinged on marquee signings. He teased Figo early in the campaign, later doubling down by mentioning Zidane. Meanwhile, Sanz was left with no cards to play except promoting homegrown striker Diego Tristán.

The comparison between Figo, Zidane, and Tristán highlighted Sanz's poor judgment.

Particularly Zidane—when the French maestro dominated the European Championship with dazzling performances, Real Madrid fans became even more enamored with Florentino's promises.

In Yang Hao's previous life, Florentino's victory in this election was narrow. This time, it was an outright landslide, leaving Sanz thoroughly humiliated and politically finished.

Upon his election, Florentino swiftly began overhauling Real Madrid's leadership structure. From the board to department heads to the sporting director role, Florentino installed his trusted allies.

The wealthy patrons who had backed him during his campaign now filled Real Madrid's boardroom. Jorge Valdano, a club legend, became the new sporting director.

Florentino wasted no time addressing the media:

"Becoming a president as great as Santiago Bernabéu has been my lifelong dream."

"Thank you to the members and fans of Real Madrid. You've made a wise choice."

"Now, my team and I will work tirelessly to fulfill the promises made during the campaign."

"I can proudly announce that Real Madrid will aim to compete on all fronts this season. We're determined to end the mediocrity of recent years, especially in La Liga."

"I will not allow another season where the stands of the Bernabéu wave white handkerchiefs!"

This was yet another jab at Sanz.

Last season, Real Madrid finished fifth in La Liga. A string of poor home performances had fans waving white handkerchiefs in protest—an infamous low point for the club.

Florentino also pledged to reduce interference in the coaching staff's technical decisions, promising the next head coach a freer hand.

This was a clear signal: the coaching position was about to change.

Florentino reiterated his transfer promises: Figo and Zidane would join Real Madrid. If he failed, he vowed to reimburse all season ticket holders out of his own pocket—an expense exceeding €10 million.

Pundits widely praised Florentino's ambitious vision and exceptional leadership. His reputation as a skilled businessman who led a multinational corporation bolstered his credibility as Real Madrid's new president.

The only dissenting voice came from club captain Fernando Hierro, who spoke up for coach Vicente del Bosque:

"When the team was at its lowest, Del Bosque stood by us. He has given everything to this team and deserves our respect."

While Spain and the European football world buzzed over Florentino's election, Atlético Madrid began its preseason training in Mahadahonda with little fanfare.

For a brief moment after the election, media attention turned to Yang Hao. However, he declined all interview requests, and the spotlight quickly shifted back to Real Madrid.

The most high-profile signing Atlético announced that summer was Edwin van der Sar from Juventus for just €5 million.

This left many skeptical about Atlético's prospects for the upcoming season.

Portuguese media added fuel to the fire.

Jorge Mendes, a rising super-agent, told reporters that a young player under his representation had turned down an offer from Atlético.

"We don't want to join a team that's fighting relegation," Mendes reportedly said.

Reports also emerged of an argument between Mendes and rival agent José Vega.

Despite the noise, Atlético's preparations continued methodically.

Then, in mid-July, Real Madrid dropped a bombshell: they had signed Luis Figo from arch-rival Barcelona for a world-record €56 million.

The transfer sent shockwaves through football.

Although Florentino had foreshadowed the move, and Real Madrid fans had eagerly awaited confirmation, the sheer scale of the deal stunned everyone.

Luis Figo, the face of Barcelona, was now a Real Madrid player.

The €56 million fee smashed the world record, with total expenditures exceeding €60 million when factoring in additional costs.

This figure didn't include Figo's staggering salary and performance bonuses.

For days, global media outlets dissected the transfer, covering every possible angle of its backstory.

With no alternatives, Yang Hao had to step in himself.

At his peak, Patrice Evra wasn't just a competent player; he was undeniably one of the world's top left-backs—versatile, durable, and capable of consistent performance at the highest level.

But his physique and playing style were ill-suited for a forward. Left-back was clearly where he belonged.

So, Yang Hao instructed his assistant coach, Juanma Lillo, to transition Evra into playing as a left-back.

The results were promising, but Evra was far from happy.

Let's face it—who, given the chance to play as a forward, would willingly switch to defense?

Evra even confronted Yang Hao about it once, but Yang deflected the blame, saying it was Lillo's idea.

Since then, Evra had been venting his frustrations directly at Lillo, nearly driving the assistant coach to a breaking point.

"I can't take it anymore. You have to handle this. He's about to drive me insane!"

Clearly, Lillo was at his wit's end and could only escalate the issue to Yang Hao.

Yang Hao chuckled to himself after seeing off Lillo. He found the situation amusing.

Although he appeared to stay hands-off as head coach, everything within the team remained firmly under his control.

He simply delegated daily training and other routine matters to focus on broader responsibilities.

Not long after, Evra was summoned to meet with him by the ever-diligent Parales.

"Come in, Patrice! Have a seat," Yang Hao greeted warmly.

Evra walked in cautiously, already guessing the topic.

"Boss, let me guess—Coach Lillo complained about me again?"

Yang Hao almost burst out laughing. Poor Lillo...

"You can't blame him entirely. This situation is, admittedly, a bit tricky."

"Boss, I've played as a forward my whole life. I don't even know how to play left-back."

"But the coaching staff thinks you've been doing a great job there."

"Fine, then I'll just stop trying!"

The room fell silent as Evra stopped mid-sentence, noticing Yang Hao's face darken. Realizing his mistake, he quickly backpedaled, apologizing profusely and insisting he hadn't meant it.

"Alright, listen up. I've spoken with Lillo. Playing left-back is only temporary."

Evra's face scrunched into a grimace, clearly still unhappy. But before he could protest, Yang Hao continued:

"I understand this isn't what you wanted, but Lillo genuinely believes you have a future as a left-back. If you're frustrated, take it out on the opposition. Imagine every opponent is Lillo and give it your all!"

Evra's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Why not? Call out his name and go after them with everything you've got!"

"But what if Lillo finds out?" Evra asked, still wary of upsetting his coach.

"Tell him I said so. Don't worry!" Yang Hao promised confidently.

Evra grinned mischievously, seemingly energized by the idea. He was already imagining the field as his personal battleground, with Lillo's name spurring him into action.

"Alright, boss. I'll do it."

"Good. Trust me—this is only temporary."

"But remember, I'm a forward. A forward! I've got speed and skills. Left-back just doesn't suit me."

"I get it. I originally brought you in as a forward, too. But for now, we need to prioritize the team's needs. Hang in there, okay?"

"Fine, but I'm counting on you to keep your word."

"Of course. Oh, and don't bother Lillo anymore. Focus on your training instead."

"Got it."

As Evra left, Yang Hao couldn't help but laugh.

But beneath the humor, he felt a pang of helplessness.

Who could've guessed that someone who spent years playing as a forward would eventually become a world-class left-back?

With Fabio Aurelio away preparing for the Sydney Olympics, his late return meant he was still undergoing conditioning and might not make it in time for the Spanish Super Cup.

Yang Hao's plan was simple: let Evra fill the gap.

Truthfully, the Super Cup wasn't a make-or-break competition. While winning would be great, losing wouldn't be the end of the world.

However, Deportivo La Coruña was no pushover this season. After signing three of Atlético's former stars and adding notable players like Diego Tristán, their squad had significantly strengthened.

Under coach Javier Irureta, Deportivo was gearing up to make a serious impact in the Champions League and had little regard for Atlético Madrid.

For Yang Hao, this two-legged Super Cup clash was the perfect opportunity to test his newly-assembled team.

He was eager to see how his players, with their diverse skill sets and abilities, would gel on the field.

How strong was this team, really?

What was their ceiling?

These questions could only be answered through real competition.

For now, Deportivo would serve as Atlético's first true test.

And much like Evra, Yang Hao was itching to get started.

Returning to Mahadahonda from the Calderón, Yang Hao had barely settled into his office chair when Juanma Lillo entered to give his report.

Under Yang Hao's overall supervision, Atlético Madrid's summer training program was progressing smoothly, with Lillo overseeing the execution and Pedro Jaro, Albert Roca, and Óscar Ortega providing support.

The only hiccup? The team's lackluster performance in preseason friendlies.

But, as any seasoned coach knows, who cares about preseason results?

Yang Hao had been focusing his energy on two key tasks: collaborating with the club's new sports science lab and communicating his tactical philosophy to the players. Building trust and understanding with his squad was just as important as training them.

After a month of intensive work, Yang Hao felt confident that he had a clear grasp of every player's strengths, weaknesses, and temperament across the first and second teams.

Take Edwin van der Sar, for instance.

The Dutch goalkeeper, coming off a challenging stint at Juventus, had been one of Yang Hao's priorities.

To help new arrivals settle in, Yang Hao hired two relocation specialists to assist players and their families with finding housing, schools, and handling administrative tasks.

Van der Sar was the first to benefit from these services and expressed great satisfaction.

Spain's goalkeeper training, influenced heavily by Dutch methods, combined well with Pedro Jaro's expertise in Italian-style training techniques learned under Peruzzi. As a result, Van der Sar was adapting well.

Currently, Atlético's first team had two primary goalkeepers: Van der Sar and Toni Jiménez.

Though the club had signed Petr Čech from the Czech Republic, a mutual decision was made to loan him back to Marsonia in the Czech league for further development.

"Guess what? Evra came to pester me again," Lillo said, taking a seat across from Yang Hao after delivering his report.

Without looking up, Yang Hao replied, "You need to assert yourself more. Show him your authority as the head assistant coach, and he won't dare bother you again."

"Easy for you to say! Why don't you handle it? I'm always the bad guy, while you get to play the good cop. Honestly, I must've been out of my mind to board your pirate ship and take on all these thankless tasks. Now the players probably think I'm heartless!"

By the time he finished, Lillo was laughing at his own predicament.

"Hey, don't say that. We're a team—like parents disciplining a child. One plays the stern parent; the other, the kind one."

"Well, I'd like to be the kind one for a change!"

Yang Hao finally looked up, giving Lillo a teasing smile as if to say, "Do you really think you have the face for it?"

Lillo shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny. His relationship with players had never been his strong suit.

"Care to rephrase?" Yang Hao prompted with mock seriousness.

"I…" Lillo sighed in defeat.

He knew his strengths—and being the "good cop" wasn't one of them. Someone had to do the dirty work, and it usually fell to him.

"You have no idea. The players think I'm some kind of tyrant," Lillo lamented.

"Well, they're not entirely wrong," Yang Hao quipped.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means part of your salary is 'hazard pay' for dealing with complaints," Yang Hao said with a chuckle.

Lillo groaned, feeling thoroughly unappreciated. He did all the heavy lifting and bore the brunt of the criticism, while Yang Hao got to bask in the glory.

"This isn't fair. You owe me a proper dinner," Lillo said, feigning indignation.

Yang Hao shrugged. "Sure, I'll ask the canteen to prepare something special for you."

Lillo nearly fell off his chair. Of course, Yang Hao would "treat" him using the club's budget.

"By the way, I still don't get it," Lillo said, changing the subject. "Why force Evra to play left-back? He's been a forward his whole life, and we're not exactly short on left-backs."

Atlético already had three natural left-backs: veteran captain Toni Muñoz, Fabio Aurelio, and Antonio López. Aurelio, fresh from the Olympics, was performing well in training and friendlies.

Yet for some inexplicable reason, Yang Hao had demoted López to the second team and insisted that Evra, a forward, play left-back in the first team.

Wouldn't left-winger have been a more logical position for Evra?

Yang Hao looked at Lillo thoughtfully before responding with a question of his own:

"And how's he doing at left-back?"

"He's actually doing pretty well. He's fast, explosive, technical, good with the ball, and even solid defensively," Lillo admitted.

"Exactly. Left-back suits him," Yang Hao said matter-of-factly.

The whole situation still felt odd to Lillo.

When Yang Hao signed Patrice Evra from Monza, he had assumed Evra was a left-back. But it turned out Evra was a forward at the time.

Small, agile, and technically skilled, Evra seemed a natural fit for the forward position.

Yang Hao could only assume that Evra transitioned to left-back later in his career, likely after moving to Ligue 1.

For now, Yang Hao's decision to play Evra at left-back stemmed from necessity.

With Fabio Aurelio recovering from Olympic duties and unlikely to be ready for the Spanish Super Cup, Yang Hao needed someone to step up.

The Super Cup wasn't a high-stakes competition. While winning would be nice, losing wasn't a disaster.

Deportivo La Coruña, Atlético's opponents, had strengthened significantly in the offseason, signing several former Atlético players as well as Diego Tristán. Their squad was gearing up for a strong Champions League campaign.

Under coach Javier Irureta, Deportivo certainly didn't see Atlético as equals.

After a month of meticulous preparation, Yang Hao viewed this two-legged Super Cup as the perfect opportunity to test his team's potential.

How would his carefully assembled squad fare under real competition?

The answer would soon reveal itself.

Just like Evra, Yang Hao was itching for kickoff.

With no other options, Yang Hao decided to handle things personally.

After all, Patrice Evra, at his peak, was not only supremely skilled but also incredibly durable—a world-class left-back in every sense.

Looking at his physique, it was clear that sticking him in a forward position wouldn't yield the same results. Left-back was where he was destined to shine.

Thus, Yang Hao instructed Juanma Lillo to convert Evra into a left-back.

Surprisingly, the experiment was quite successful—except for one issue: Evra wasn't happy.

From time immemorial, what forward player would willingly swap attacking glory for the defensive grind of being a full-back?

Evra had already approached Yang Hao once to complain. Yang Hao, however, cleverly deflected the blame to Lillo, claiming it was the assistant coach's idea.

From then on, Evra focused his complaints on Lillo, nearly driving the poor assistant coach to his wits' end.

"I don't care! You have to deal with this. I can't take it anymore," Lillo declared, completely exasperated.

It was clear Lillo had hit a wall and could only escalate the issue to Yang Hao.

Yang Hao chuckled as he watched Lillo leave, finding the situation more amusing than anything else.

As the head coach, Yang Hao had cultivated an air of being uninvolved, seemingly leaving the day-to-day grind to his staff.

In reality, everything within the team operated under his meticulous oversight.

Delegating training sessions and other routine tasks allowed him to focus on broader, long-term objectives.

Not long after, Evra was summoned by Paláres to meet with Yang Hao.

"Come in, Patrice! Have a seat," Yang Hao said, warmly beckoning him.

Evra already suspected what this was about. "Boss, I bet Coach Lillo came running to you to tattle on me, didn't he?"

Yang Hao nearly burst out laughing at Lillo's plight.

"Don't blame him. Your situation is... complicated."

"Boss, you have to understand—I've been a forward my whole life. I can't just switch to left-back overnight!"

"But the coaching staff seems to think you're doing pretty well there," Yang Hao countered.

Evra frowned. "Well then, next time, I'll just slack off!"

The room went silent as Yang Hao's expression darkened. Realizing his mistake, Evra quickly backtracked, waving his hands apologetically. "I didn't mean that! I'd never actually slack off—I swear!"

Yang Hao softened his tone. "Look, don't say I'm not looking out for you. I've already spoken with Lillo—playing left-back is just temporary."

Evra's face immediately fell into a pained grimace.

Before he could interject, Yang Hao pressed on:

"I know you're frustrated, but Lillo genuinely believes you have the potential to become a great left-back. If you're upset about it, take it out on the pitch. Treat every opponent like they're Lillo and go all out!"

"Seriously?" Evra asked, suddenly intrigued.

"Absolutely. Picture him every time you tackle or intercept the ball. It'll do wonders for your motivation," Yang Hao said with a grin.

"What if Coach Lillo finds out?" Evra asked hesitantly.

"Just tell him I told you to do it. Don't worry!"

Relieved, Evra broke into a mischievous smile. He nodded repeatedly, now itching for an opportunity to take the field and "vent his frustrations."

"Alright then, I'll trust you on this."

"Good. Remember, it's only temporary."

"Boss, don't forget—I'm a forward! I've got speed and skills. Playing left-back is such a waste!" Evra pleaded, once again reminding Yang Hao of his true calling.

Yang Hao nodded, feigning seriousness. "I hear you. When I signed you, I envisioned you as a forward too. But for now, let's prioritize the team's needs. Just hang in there for a bit longer."

"Fine. I'll wait for your good news."

"Great. And one more thing—stop pestering Lillo. Focus on your training."

"Got it," Evra replied.

As he watched Evra leave, Yang Hao couldn't help but chuckle.

Still, once the laughter subsided, he felt a pang of sympathy.

Who could have guessed that the man who spent his early career as a forward would eventually become one of the world's best left-backs?

With Fabio Aurelio returning late from the Sydney Olympics and still in the middle of fitness training, he likely wouldn't be ready for the Spanish Super Cup.

For now, Evra was the logical choice to fill the gap.

Truth be told, Yang Hao didn't see the Super Cup as a high-stakes competition. While winning would be satisfying, a loss wouldn't be the end of the world.

Deportivo La Coruña, Atlético's opponents, had bolstered their squad significantly over the summer. After signing several former Atlético players and adding Diego Tristán to their ranks, they were shaping up to be a formidable side.

Under coach Javier Irureta, Deportivo was clearly focused on making a splash in the Champions League, with little regard for Atlético.

After a month of meticulous preparation, Yang Hao was eager to see his newly assembled squad in action.

How well would his mix of star players and promising youngsters perform?

How strong was their chemistry and overall capability?

These questions would soon be answered.

Deportivo's two-legged Super Cup clash would be the perfect litmus test.

Yang Hao wasn't the only one excited—Evra was just as eager to step onto the pitch.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter of more than 13,000 words

Read 12 Chapters In Advance: www.patreon.com/Canserbero10

Read over 125,000 words on my Patreon!