From the previous disclosure of the members of the Guangzhou Municipal Share Reform Group, it is known that Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Group and Guangzhou Automobile Group have joined hands to take over the Guangzhou team, which is indeed an alternative strategy of the Guangzhou Municipal Government, however, there is no mention of the rumor that each of the two enterprises will get half of the equity shareholding. There is no clear conclusion as to who will take the lead. It is reported that the Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Group has recently made a lot of moves, apparently to obtain the dominant right of the Guangzhou team with a strong determination. Recalling that Li Chuyuan, the chairman of Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals, publicly stated his intention to join hands with Guangzhou soccer again at the Party Congress of Guangzhou in December last year, we can see that Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals Group's intention to press Guangzhou Auto. All the signs show that in this battle over the equity of Guangzhou Football Salon, Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Group seems to be one step ahead for the time being.
Player retention not on the agenda for now
On the one hand, the club's share reform process is slow, while the team members are anxious. With the 2021 Chinese Super League season coming to an end, Guangzhou is currently on vacation, yet players and staff are as anxious as ever about the progress of the club and the team's share reform. Last October, back-rower Liao Lixiang's contract officially ended. Considering his condition and the possibility of a future transfer, Liao Lixiang has remained involved in the team's training and matches without a contract. Mei Fang's contract with Guangzhou expired on December 31st last year, and after the team finished their last game on January 4th, he also chose to leave the team. Zheng Zhi, Huang Bowen, Li Xuepeng, Deng Hanwen and other players whose contracts with Guangzhou expired. 42-year-old Zheng Zhi's contract with the team has long since been changed to a one-year contract, and 34-year-old Huang Bowen, who transformed himself into Zheng Zhi's assistant after the start of the second phase of the Chinese Super League, is yet to obtain a coaching certificate, and is not qualified for coaching. Even after the club's share reform, Huang Bowen, who has been affected by injuries and illnesses, will find it difficult to get a contract with the Guangzhou team again. It is reported that several veterans in the Guangzhou team are waiting for the determination of the new investor while also contacting other clubs to explore the possibility of transfer. Evergrande Group, the current investor in Guangzhou Football Salon, is also watching the progress of the share reform. The previously proposed share reform program is to retain 30% of the original investor's equity. Although Evergrande Group is no longer able to transfuse blood for the club, but is not willing to completely give up the soccer business. In the case of no clear progress in the share reform, potential new owners such as the Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Group, etc., did not take over the management of the club, naturally, it will not be able to put the question of the players to stay on the agenda.
