It’s another Monday, I hate Mondays…Anyways, takes a look at all the big Chinese news stories from the weekend so you don’t have to.
–It looks like Shanghai Shenxin will remain in the CSL. With the December 5th date for 2013 registration coming up fast, the CSL/CFA has not scheduled a playoff game between Shenxin and China League third place side Fujian Smart Hero. CFA officials close to Fujian Smart Hero said that even if they were to beat Shenxin, they had only just come up from the China Yi League last year and lack the funding and conditions. Shenxin has stopped practicing and allowed its players to go on winter vacation.
–Zhang Chengdong came on a a substitute in Eintracht Braunschweig’s away win against FSV Frankfurt on Sunday. The youngster is part of a Braunschweig side that looks like a solid prospect from Germany’s Bundesliga 2, currently sitting on top of the table with 40 points in 17 matches. It is the Hebei-born Zhang’s seventh appearance this season.
–Guangzhou Evergrande official Liu Yongzhuo goes on the record saying that nobody is safe in Guangzhou and that Evergrande have heard bids on up to 80% of its players. Hangzhou chairman Shen Qiang laments the ever-rising CSL transfer fees and said that the club will absolutely not sell Wang Song this off-season, despite getting offers over RMB10 million for the 29 year old.
–Guangzhou R&F and Guizhou Renhe are in hot pursuit of Shide player Lu Peng and the bidding war for the Chinese international is rumored to be reaching RMB20 million. At the same time, his teammate Zhao Mingjian is said to be available for RMB15 million, potentially heading to Shandong Luneng or to join his former teammate Zhu Ting in Wuhan.
–The Wall Stree Journal has an interesting interview with new Li Ning boss Jin-Goon Kim. Ominous for football fans is this quote: “one thing we’ve done recently is invest in the Chinese Basketball Association and Dwyane Wade, because that speaks to the most important sports segment for China’s younger generation.” We all know it to be true, but yet another example that basketball is king amongst youngsters in China.
–Shanghai Shenhua won the “Old Jia A” veteran’s league with a penalty kick victory over Guangzhou this weekend. It’s good that Shanghai has something to celebrate, because it doesn’t look like they’ll win the CSL again anytime soon. No word if they used the same bribery tactics that they did to win their last league title. Perhaps my anger is motivated by the fact team captain Fan Zhiyi discussed Guoan’s famous 9-1 victory and implied the result wasn’t very clean.
–David Beckham’s LA Galaxy won the MLS Cup for the second year in a row. Can we expect him to end up in China next year? While Victoria is definitely interested in building her brand in China, me thinks there is very little chance we’ll see him with a CSL club in 2013.
–It’s CSL wedding season. See the pictures (and horrible horrible Chinese taste) from the weddings of Beijing Guoan’s Jiao Zhe, Guangzhou Evergrande’s Tang Dechao, and former national team keeper Li Leilei.
–Over the weekend, Dalian Aerbin officially announced what everyone already knew, they bought and absorbed Dalian Shide. Sina has a nice photo slideshow with historic pictures of Shide over the years, including a few shots from Hongkou, pre-renovation.
What does that meant for the league so if Dalian is now one team (did I read that right?)
Yes, Dalian Aerbin purchased Dalian Shide and will create a “united” team in 2013 (for more click here: http://wildeastfootball.org/2012/11/aerbin-purchases-dalian-shide-for-rmb-3-2-billion/). What it means is that Shanghai Shenxin will remain in the CSL and not be relegated and the China League, China’s division two, will be short one side in 2013.