Chapter 285: Dude, Do You Want Revenge?

The story of David Luiz and Real Madrid is almost like a fleeting encounter.

At the time, Real Madrid's scouts were eyeing a team in Brazil's third division, where David Luiz was playing. They were optimistic about Luiz's potential and even extended an invitation. But back then, Luiz's team, Vitoria, was striving to gain promotion to Brazil's second division, and they weren't willing to let him go.

Moreover, Real Madrid's offer was only for their B team, which was a tough pill for 18-year-old David Luiz to swallow. If it had been an offer to join the first team, he would have jumped at the chance.

Real Madrid didn't pursue it further; for them, a transfer worth only a few hundred thousand euros wasn't worth a second look.

Before joining Napoli, David Luiz's closest brush with European football came in early 2006.

At that time, Vitoria had successfully secured promotion to the second division, and the club promised to let Luiz go. That's when scouts from Belgian giants Anderlecht, who were traveling through Brazil scouting young talent, spotted him and expressed interest.

The discussions progressed well, with Anderlecht's scouts even flying from Europe to Brazil to watch Luiz play in person. As long as he impressed in that match, he would secure his ticket to European football.

Everyone at Vitoria supported him, knowing that this was an incredible opportunity for the team's best player.

David Luiz still remembers that game vividly. The opponent was Criciúma, and it was an afternoon match.

His mind was all over the place, filled with the sweltering heat and excitement.

Unfortunately, he was too distracted.

His thoughts kept drifting to the scouts in the stands, to his life in Europe with Anderlecht, and to his career prospects in European football. He even began to fantasize about using the Belgian league as a stepping stone to one of Europe's top leagues.

This distraction led to mistakes. He overcompensated, trying too hard to impress, which only resulted in more blunders. The game turned into a nightmare.

Vitoria suffered a crushing 0-6 defeat, with even the opponent's goalkeeper managing to score.

David Luiz received the lowest rating of any player on the field.

After the game, the head coach berated him in the locker room, telling him he had blown his shot at Europe, that his "ticket" was invalid.

Sure enough, the Anderlecht scouts vanished, never to return.

That disastrous match wasn't just a personal blow for David Luiz; it was a major setback for Vitoria as well. The club not only suffered an embarrassing defeat but also lost out on a lucrative transfer fee.

At that moment, David Luiz felt like his life was ruined.

"After that game, I was stuck in a rut. I was sad, frustrated, and everyone around me stopped praising me. I even started to question how much longer I could keep going."

David Luiz's family background wasn't affluent. His parents were teachers, but that wasn't enough for a comfortable life. His father, a former footballer, had hoped that like many Brazilian kids, Luiz could change his family's fortunes through football.

Being noticed by European scouts had seemed like the opportunity of a lifetime, one that could change everything. But first Real Madrid, then Anderlecht—both chances slipped through his fingers. For a while, his family and he himself must have been devastated.

"And then, boss, I met you. You were like a light from heaven, giving me another chance. You didn't even hesitate or investigate too deeply; you just took me to Europe."

"Even when I first set foot in Naples, I was still wondering if it was all a dream."

David Luiz looked at Gao Shen with an expression full of gratitude, almost like reverence.

He was on the verge of tears.

Gao Shen was deeply moved. He hadn't realized that a simple decision on his part could have such a profound impact on David Luiz's life and family.

"So, boss, please never doubt my loyalty. I'll fight for you with everything I've got!"

David Luiz's eyes were red, his fists clenched, and his tone filled with conviction.

"Whatever you ask, whoever the opponent, wherever we are, I'll give it my all for you!"

Gao Shen felt genuinely touched.

In his coaching career, he'd managed two teams, promoted several players, and had his fair share of moments with his players, but he'd never had anyone express such sincere gratitude as David Luiz had just done.

From the time Luiz joined Napoli, he had made numerous mistakes, yet he was always diligent and hardworking in both matches and training. He was one of the most driven players Gao Shen had ever worked with.

But while Gao Shen was moved, he knew he couldn't let his emotions rule his decisions.

After leaving the Chinese restaurant and dropping David Luiz off at home, Gao Shen returned to his own place with a lot to think about.

This conversation had given him a clearer sense of the impact his work had on his players' lives.

He had always known that football could change people's lives. For instance, Sanchez and his family had left behind the poverty of northern Chile to start a new life in Naples. And that was partly because of the opportunity Gao Shen had provided.

But this was the first time anyone had openly acknowledged his influence on their life.

He believed that David Luiz was genuinely remorseful and truly wanted to change. But Gao Shen still chose to keep a bit of distance.

Why?

Because he needed to keep some pressure on David Luiz.

As a leader, you have to be able to keep yourself in a position where you can move forward or pull back when necessary. Sometimes, putting too much trust in a subordinate can backfire.

If Gao Shen had responded with equal sincerity, expressing all his expectations and hopes, David Luiz would likely be grateful. But then what?

There was a risk that he might start getting complacent, falling back into old habits.

If that happened, it would be even harder to reel him back in.

Instead, it was better to keep some pressure on him now. Let him continue to feel a sense of crisis, a drive to improve.

However, Gao Shen didn't leave him completely in the dark. He offered Luiz a goal, a way to redeem himself.

"The game against Roma, if you don't make any mistakes and even manage to score, I'll consider it even."

David Luiz nodded eagerly, filled with determination. He vowed to give it his all.

No one else knew about the conversation between Gao Shen and David Luiz.

But the next day at the training center, everyone noticed something different. David Luiz showed up with red eyes and a blistered mouth. The team doctor said it was from something he ate, but what could he have eaten?

David Luiz didn't explain, and Gao Shen certainly wasn't going to say anything.

But during practice, David Luiz was a force of energy, focused and driven, his spirit noticeably lifted.

Carlo, Lucas, and the rest of the staff couldn't help but wonder if Gao Shen had done something in private.

Somehow, Lucas managed to get the story out of David Luiz, and soon, the coaching staff was laughing.

It was almost unbelievable.

Was this really how you treat your players? And your most loyal one at that?

The most ridiculous part was that Gao Shen hadn't even invited them to share in the fun.

These were just private jokes, of course. The coaches kept a professional demeanor around Luiz and the other players.

As October rolled on and the international matches took place, the time for the players' return grew closer.

But travel complications soon arose.

The match against Roma was scheduled to be the first fixture of the eighth round of Serie A. Kickoff was set for 5:00 PM on October 20th at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

The issue was the return of the South American players.

Many of them would need to fly for over ten or even twenty hours to reach Rome, with the earliest arrivals returning the night before the match, and some only arriving the morning of the game. Additionally, they'd have to contend with jet lag.

This posed a significant challenge, as the South American internationals would likely be exhausted.

This wasn't just a problem for Napoli but for any team with a significant South American contingent.

However, Roma's situation was less severe. Their main South American players, such as Mancini and Pizarro, were not playing in international matches. Only their center-back Juan and right-back Cicinho had to travel back.

Napoli, on the other hand, faced a greater challenge. While Di Maria, Valencia, and Vidal had no international duties this time, Biglia, Cavani, and Vargas were all returning from national team matches. This would inevitably impact Napoli's performance.

To prepare for this, Napoli had made contingency plans.

During the two-week international break, Gao Shen had been working meticulously on Napoli's tactics and specific arrangements for the Roma game.

In interviews with the media, Gao Shen reiterated that Napoli would stick to their tactical style on the road.

"Last season, we beat Roma 6-0. We have the psychological advantage and the experience to handle this team."

"I believe it's going to be a fantastic game, and we'll aim to defeat them in the boldest way possible!"

The message was clear: Napoli intended to go on the offensive.

Just like they did against Inter at the San Siro.

Moreover, Gao Shen repeatedly reminded the press of last season's 6-0 thrashing of Roma.

It was almost as if he was pointing at Spalletti and the Roma players, challenging them, saying, "Dude, do you want revenge?"