If you want to say what is the biggest gap between Chinese soccer and Japan and South Korea at the moment, I believe many fans can confidently say the answer is the number of overseas players. Currently there is only one player on our national soccer team who plays in the first tier of Europe and can play. That person is Wu Shaocong, who plays for BFK Istanbul in the Turkish Super League. Japan and South Korea have players all over Europe, many of whom play starting roles in the big five leagues. They can almost always organize two or more national teams made up of overseas players. These players have essentially been assimilated into European players, so that is why Japan and South Korea have been able to work wonders of achievement in the World Cup.
Therefore, if our national soccer team wants to rise to the top and have some success in Asia or even the world, more players must stay in Europe. However, the reality is that most of our players are working hard in the Chinese Super League and are not willing to go to Europe where competition is fierce. Except for Wu Shaocong, the other players who study abroad either can't play or have to train in low level leagues. It will take a long time for them to rise up and help Chinese players become strong.
However, another good news that has come out recently is that another international player might be going to play in Europe. This international player is former Guangzhou Evergrande midfielder, Zhang Xiuwei. According to Soccer Daily, after Zhang Xiuwei didn't appear on the registration lists of Chinese Super League and Chinese First Division teams at the beginning of the year, some Chinese Championship teams made him an offer, but were turned down. Zhang Xiuwei seems to be targeting the European and French leagues once again. Teams like Auxerre have shown interest in the Chinese player and are very optimistic about Zhang Xiuwei, who has outstanding skills. If there is an opportunity to go abroad next, this will be Zhang Xiuwei's first choice.
Why the French league? In April 2014, Zhang Xiuwei officially signed with Ligue 1 club Lyon, becoming the first Chinese soccer player to sign a two-year contract with Lyon. From July 2014, Zhang Xiuwei will be eligible to represent Lyon in the Reserve League and U19 League.In August 2014, in the second round of the French D-League, Lyon B drew 1-1 at home against city rivals Lyon Duchel, in which Zhang Xiuwei came on as a substitute and made his French League debut.
Later, the era of the Chinese Super League's golden dollar began. As a study abroad player and the center of midfield for the 95 National Youth Football League, Zhang Xiuwei was naturally the focus of the digging out. Finally, Tianjin Quanjian, then China's first division Evergrande, dug Zhang Xiuwei back. After Zhang Xiuwei returned, his talent showed little by little. In Tianjin, Quanjian did well. In the first season, he helped the team to succeed beyond, and in the second season, he helped the team to get the third place in the Chinese Super League and qualified for the AFC Champions League. However, unfortunately, maybe because he did well and made more money, Zhang Xiuwei drifted and eventually made a mistake and was banned. I couldn't find a good form.
However, his uncle Carnavaro was still willing to trust Zhang Xiuwei and brought him to Guangzhou Evergrande, which used to make him a part of Guangzhou Evergrande's youthful storm. Unfortunately, Zhang Xiuwei experienced ups and downs and eventually lost his starting role. Later, with the decline of Guangzhou Evergrande, Zhang Xiuwei once refused to participate in the game because he was owed wages. Last season, in order to gain his freedom, Zhang Xiuwei played for Guangzhou and performed well. However, Zhang Xiuwei did not find a suitable team this season, so he trained for three months without a ball to play.
Seeing a new transfer window open, Zhang Xiuwei will have to run for his future again. Going back to France to play or staying in China must be the hardest choice for him at the moment. After all, he is 27 years old and needs to play and go to Europe. It remains to be seen if he will succeed. Staying in China, there is actually a lot of competition in the midfield, at least with most teams using foreign midfielders. Currently there are media reports that newly promoted Ma Qingdao Hainiu have been talking to Zhang Xiuwei and seem to want to bring him in as well. So this also shows that Zhang Xiuwei is not short of a next home.
