As April approaches, the temperature in Spain gradually warms up, though the nights remain quite cool. Especially tonight, with a slight breeze bringing a chill to the air.

  Gao Shen handed over the scouti from Bara to Raul.

  With the uping match, various pieces of information from Bara arrive daily, and each piece is analyzed to predict Bara's possible formation for the national derby. This isn't a ret arra; Real Madrid has always had scouts in Bara.

  Raul frowned upon seeing Puyol's information. He and Puyol are teammates oional team, a forward and a defender, so Raul is well aware of Puyol's strength.

  In terms of personal defensive ability, Puyol is undoubtedly one of the best in European football. His ck of height be a disadvantage against tall ter forwards, but it also makes him very agile, with strong fighting and recovery abilities. If you doubt this, just look at Bara's defense when Puyol isn't pying—it's clearly weaker.

  "It's a bit troublesome," Raul said, handing the report back to Gao Shen.

  Gao Shen nodded. "We need someone who break through Puyol's defense during terattacks."

  Raul, Zidane, Negredo, and even Beckham are all excellent pyers, but they ck the speed o break through Puyol on a terattaone of them fit that role.

  There are many ways to terattack, but breaking through Puyol would be the most deadly and threatening. Few pyers in the Real Madrid team do this. Owen could have, but he's ba the Premier League now. Callejon has speed, but he's too inexperieo be relied on in such a crucial match.

  Raul guessed whom Gao Shen was referring to. "I heard Ronnie came to see you at noon?"

  There are s in the dressing room. Ronaldo visiting Gao Shen was well-known, just like when Zidane and Beckham visited Gao Shen ht. Raul knew why.

  In fact, there aren't many so-called spiracies.

  "Yes, he wants to py, but I didn't promise him," Gao Shen replied lightly.

  Raul uood the implication.

  Gao Shen was essentially asking if Puyol was starting and Ronaldo wao py, should they let him? Raul wasn't stupid. After thinking it over, he said, "The team's current situation wasn't easy to achieve. We should gather our best pyers and form the most petitive lineup for Camp Nou. If you think it's appropriate, I have no obje."

  Gao Shen turned and stared at Raul. "Really?"

  "Och, I will cooperate with everyone as best as I . I'll also try to persuade everyone in the locker room and in private. But as for Sergio..." Raul hesitated.

  The flict between Ramos and Ronaldo occurred when Real Madrid lost 1-2 to Real Mallorca. Ramos scored first for Real Madrid, but no Brazilian pyers celebrated with him, whigered Ramos.

  After the team was reversed by Mallorca, Ramos criticized some teammates in the locker room, clearly targeting the Brazilian pyers, which led to Ronaldo and Carlos's accusations and caused infighting. Ronaldo even called Florentino to exert pressure.

  "I'll talk to him personally," Gao Shen hen sighed. "But I'm also troubled. With Ronaldo's current physical dition and fitness, how long he st in our current strategy?"

  Raul pondered and nodded.

  Gao Shen was indig that he still trusted Raul and the local pyers and that Real Madrid would tih their previous tactics.

  Ronaldo run like Raul and press like this? The team already has Zidane. Adding Ronaldo would weaken the midfield and front-line pressing tactics, increasing defensive pressure and causing the defeo falter.

  Wouldn't the team revert to its old ways?

  After Raul left, Gao Sheuro the training building.

  At the coach's office door, he hesitated, recalling Ronaldo's earlier visit, and immediately called Lucas to find Ramos. Then he walked into the coach's office.

  Even if he didn't work there, he could eais there, right?

  Ramos, passionate and fearless, had his issues. On the field, some of his moves were always too aggressive. Experience is ohing, but habits formed over many years are harder to ge.

  Otherwise, why would Caparros have trained him?

  From a 2021 perspective, Ramos is somewhat like Real Madrid's Puyol.

  Gao Shen liked this type of pyer. He believed no coach would dislike them. Of course, when they make mistakes, the coach would also be frustrated.

  But that's football.

  Ramos soon arrived, just as he was about to kno the dao Shen waved him in.

  Gao Shen had prepared a cup of hot water for Ramos.

  Though not an Argentine, Ramos had the long hair and white headband typical of an Argentine pyer. Every time Gao Shen saw him, he felt like he was seeing a non-mainstream "Killing Matt."

  Su i boy!

  "You wao see me?" Ramos asked, smiling as he sipped his water.

  After all, he was young and eic. He had pyed a tough game st night, followed by two recovery training sessions today. After a hot bath, he seemed ued.

  Of course, if he were to py now, he wouldn't be in ideal form.

  Gao Shen sat opposite him and nodded. "I just reviewed your ret game and training data. It's still the same old problem—too many big moves and mistakes. The fall in the Juventus game was fatal."

  Ramos became serious.

  "I'm sorry, I had a brain cramp at the time."

  "I uand. I'm not here to bme you. In fact, I think you performed very well in that game. I'm sidering applying for a new tract for you at the Bernabeu after the sed leg against Juventus."

  "Huh?" Ramos was dumbfounded.

  Didn't he just say he didn't perform well and made serious mistakes? Why is he talking about a new traow? I've only been with Real Madrid for less than a season.

  "What? Not happy?" Gao Shen ughed.

  "I... I signed a-year tract," Ramos said, feeling it was a strauation.

  "I know, but your annual sary is only 750,000 euros. I think it's too low for your performance."

  Many misuand Florentino, thinking he foolishly overpays for pyers. Actually, it depends ouation.

  Take Ramos, for example. 25 million euros was too much for a young defender in 2005. The market valued him at less than 7 million euros, so Real Madrid's offer was ridiculously high.

  But sider the transfer's age and sary aspects. Ramos is young and more skilled than his peers, hence a higher premium.

  To put it simply, with equal skill, the youhe pyer, the higher the value.

  Moreover, Ramos's sary in Sevil was low. When Real Madrid offered 750,000 euros annually, he readily accepted and signed fht years.

  Clearly, Real Madrid is grooming Ramos as a future leader, but his sary is the lowest oeam.

  "The wo games are crucial for us, and I don't o tell you more."

  Ramos nodded vigorously. Of course, he knew.

  "Bara's Eto'o, Larsson, and Ronaldinho, Juventus' Trezeguet, Ibrahimovic, Zayeta, Mutu, and Del Piero—these are all top attackers. I hope you show your best and most stable performan these games and py a key role in our defense."

  Ramos nodded again, fully uanding.

  "After this battle in Turin, you should know you do it. The key is minimizing mistakes and unnecessary moves. At Camp Nou and the Bernabeu, show everyone your importao the team."

  Ramos felt his importan Gao Shen's pn and his enthusiasm soared.

  "Don't worry, I won't let you down."

  Gao Shen smiled, patting Ramos on the shoulder. "You never disappoint, Sergio!"

  Pausing, Gao Shen tinued, "After these two games, I'll definitely fight for a tract renewal for you at the Bernabeu."

  Ramos nodded firmly.

  Gao Shen rexed the atmosphere a bit, then remembered something. "By the way, keep this a secret, but prepare yourself mentally."

  "Huh?" Ramos was surprised.

  "Puyol will likely start. For the match at Camp Nou, I'm pnning t Ronaldo. You'll o look out for him and focus on team unity, okay?" Gao Shen said, patting Ramos's shoulder as if it were a minor issue.

  Ramos, thinking it was a big deal earlier, ughed. "Got it. As long as he doesn't provoke me, I won't provoke him. On the field, I'll cooperate as needed."

  Satisfied, Gao Shen nodded.