Rising international star Wu Shaocong, the first Chinese player to play in the Turkish top flight, ignited the passion of some Chinese fans for the city of Istanbul as soon as he joined FC Basaksehir.
Basaksehir, a latecomer founded in 1990, made its first leap to the Turkish Super League stage 15 years ago and claimed its first championship glory in 2020. Like Shanghai Port in the Chinese Super League, Basaksehir is not a capital city team, but both Istanbul and Shanghai have solid economic roots in the heart of the country's economy.
Now, Basaksehir is ranked third in the Turkish Super League and is expected to hit the title this season. The team includes former superstar Ozil and former Italian international Ocalca, while 43-year-old Turkish coach Emre, who has a close relationship with Chinese soccer, helped Turkey win the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan by defeating the national soccer team 3-0, writing history and winning the third place.
Turkish soccer is unique in Asia with its hard style. Wu Shaocong, a 192cm tall player, has the height advantage but also faces fierce competition from three Brazilian defender outsiders. It would be a victory if he could become a strong replacement on the bench in a short period of time. Historically, Chinese players have never set foot in the Turkish Super League, and with Wu Shaochong being a student in Japan just over four years ago, Barcelona will undoubtedly be an unprecedented test for him. May he succeed.
