The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Shanghai Shenhua

  • Tevez sent packing by Shanghai Shenhua

    Tevez sent packing by Shanghai Shenhua

     

     

    Shanghai Shenhua have terminated the contract of striker Carlos Tevez.

    The 33-year-old had another 12 months to run on his deal with the Chinese Super League side but the club have opted to release him following weeks of speculation over his future.

    “The club would like to place on record our gratitude to Tevez for his contribution last season and wish him all the best in his future endeavours,” they confirmed in a statement.

    Tevez is now expected to return to boyhood club Boca Juniors, having been pictured in the club’s gym on Friday.

    Boca tweeted the image of a smiling Tevez on a treadmill, with the caption: “Tevez is coming home! He joined the team today and is already training with his team-mates.”

    Tevez reportedly became the world’s best-paid player when he signed a two-year deal with Shenhua in December 2016 worth a reported £615,000 a week.

    The former Manchester United forward endured a miserable time in China, though, scoring just four goals in 16 CSL appearances amid accusations of a poor work ethic.

    He was left out of the squad for the Chinese FA Cup final and later returned to Argentina for treatment on a calf injury.

    The move back to Boca was always on the cards, with club president Daniel Angelici previously saying: “When the player is free, we will talk to him.”

    Meanwhile, Vice-president Horacio Paolini claimed: “I’m constantly in touch with Carlos.

    “We met last week for a meal. I’d say his return will be closed in a few days.”

  • Asian Champion league: Martins face tough challenge

    Asian Champion league: Martins face tough challenge

     

    Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua will be banking on 100% input from their Nigerian import and Super Eagles forward Obafemi Martins as they face tough opposition in the Asian Champion league.

    The Chinese FA Cup winners face a tough test in the 2018 Asian Champions League after being drawn Wednesday against top Japanese club Kashima Antlers and Australian A-League leaders Sydney FC.

    Shanghai Shenhua unexpectedly beat expensively assembled rivals Shanghai SIPG in last month’s FA Cup final, without Argentine forward Carlos Tevez whose future in China is in doubt after a poor run of form.

    But the absence of Carlos was not felt as the Nigerian international took the bull by the horns.  He scored the only goal in the first leg of the 2017 Chinese FA Cup final and scored a spectacular goal in the second. Although their opponents,

    Shanghai SIPG, won the second leg 3–2, Shanghai Shenhua won the trophy on away goals. Martins who has made over 39 appearances for Shanghai Shenhua since joining the club in February 2016 has netted over 19 goals and the technical crew

    are optimistic he will harvest more goals for the side both at the Champions league and the Chinese Super League where they currently occupy the 11th position on the table.

    But they have a fight on their hands in the group stage of Asia’s premier club competition against Antlers, finalists in the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup and Sydney.

    Two-time winners and Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande will face South Korea’s Jeju United, Thailand’s Buriram United and the winner of Japan’s Emperor’s Cup, following the draw in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.

    2017 AFC Champions League winners Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan are not competing after failing to qualify.

    Runners-up Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia face Iran’s Esteghlal and Qatar’s Al-Rayyan, as they make a fresh bid to end years of dominance by East Asian clubs.

    Meanwhile 2016 champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors of South Korea are set to return to the tournament after being barred last year due to a bribery scandal.

    The group stage runs from February to April with the West and East Asian teams kept apart until the final in November.

  • Martins missing in Shenhua draw

    Martins missing in Shenhua draw

     

     

     

    Nigerian international Obafemi martins was again missing in the line up as Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua  were held to 1-1 draw by visiting Tianjin Quanjian Saturday. The Nigerian is yet to get playing time for the side in the new season. The tie was however a highly temperamental one as Martins teammate Qin Sheng was severely punished by Shanghai Shenhua after a nasty, deliberate stamp on Axel Witsel.

    The midfielder was not only sent off but also  fined £35,000, relegated to Shanghai’s reserve team and could yet see his wages reduced by furious club president Wu Xiaohui.

    A Shenhua statement read: ‘In the 24th minute, Greenland Shenhua player Qin Sheng deliberately stamped on the foot of his opponent in the box, and was shown a red card by the referee. His behavior was against sportsmanship.

    ‘The club will see his attitude and follow-up performances, and decide whether to cut his annual salary.

    ‘When purchasing competitive achievements, the club will not loosen its management over players. We will take this as a lesson and avoid incidents like this.’

    Qin was ordered to make a public apology following his assault on the Belgium international – who is one of the star attractions in the expanding Chinese Super League and commands wages of £16million per season, or roughly £300,000 each week.

    Back in 2013, playing in a CFA Cup final for Guangzhou Evergrande, he kicked Guizhou Renhe’s striker Zlatan Muslimovic in the face causing a nasal fracture and forcing his opponent to return to Bosnia – his home country – for surgery.

    The same year, while on international duty for Chgina, Qin was sent off 13 minutes into a FRIENDLY against Holland for an outrageous tackle on Jonathan de Guzman. 

    He wrote on one of his social media accounts: ‘Exciting match but stupid foul.

    ‘My personal behaviour affected the whole team. I want to apologise to the fans, club officials and coaches, as well as my pals fighting together on the pitch.

    ‘As a professional player, I should not take such ‘revenge’ but respect the referee’s decision.’

    President Wu was less dismissive of the matter, however, saying: ‘The extremely irrational behaviour of Qin Sheng has severely tarnished the image of this club, the football of Shanghai and even Chinese football.

  • Ighalo not aware of Shanghai Shenhua offer

    Ighalo not aware of Shanghai Shenhua offer

    Odion Ighalo is unaware of reports linking him with a transfer to the Chinese Super League in the January transfer window, and has set his sights on Watford’s upcoming meeting with Burton Albion in the FA Cup.

    The Hornets number 24 was left scratching his head when asked to respond to rumours in the local media that he is waiting to get approval from Super Eagles coach Rohr before moving to China.

    “I don’t know anything about the interest from Shanghai Shenhua, I have to ask my agent Atta, ” said Odion Ighalo to allnigeriasoccer.com after training on Friday afternoon.

    “And as for the Super Eagles coach, I haven’t spoken to him about anything apart from wishing each other Happy New Year last week.”

  • Martins joins China’s Shanghai Shenhua

    Martins joins China’s Shanghai Shenhua

    Obafemi  Martins has joined China’s Shanghai Shenhua in a multi-million dollar deal, BBC Sport can reveal.

    The 31-year-old makes the switch from Seattle Sounders, where he scored 43 goals in 84 appearances for the MLS club he joined in March 2013.

    Martins was linked with a move back to the Premier League in the January window, but British agent Tony Harris along with the player’s attorney Soroosh Abdi brokered the deal taking the Super Eagle to China instead.

    Martins, who joins Senegalese striker, Demba Ba at the Shanghai club, becomes the latest high-profile player to make the switch to the cash-rich Super League.

    Colombia striker, Jackson Martinez, former Chelsea midfielder Ramires, Cameroon captain Stephane Mbia and ex-Serie A duo Gervinho and Fredy Guarin are among the other big Chinese signings in 2016.

    Martins burst into the international limelight at Italian side Inter Milan before switching to Newcastle in August 2006. He scored 35 goals in his three seasons with the Magpies.

    The striker, who has also had spells in Germany, Russia and Spain, will be remembered for scoring Birmingham City’s winner in their 2-1 Carling Cup final victory over Arsenal in 2011 – the club’s first silverware since 1963.

    He has scored 18 goals in 41 international appearances for three-time African Champions, Nigeria and was voted Africa’s most promising talent in 2003 and 2004.