In the past decade, soccer has grown rapidly in China, and the Chinese Super League has been a spectacular success, but with hidden dangers. The clubs that spend a lot of money, the league's physical quality is worrying, the youth training system is lagging behind, and the huge investment in foreign aid has not been effective, and ultimately ended up in the name of chicken ribs. 2023, the Chinese Super League has fallen into the doldrums, and Guangzhou, as a former leader, will be competing in the new season of the First Division.
On the contrary, almost all Chinese companies investing in European teams have reaped rich returns, and Spaniards is one of the leaders. Chen Yansheng took over the Spaniards, operating well, through the operation of Chinese men's soccer players to stay in the world, earned a lot of profit. Although Wu Lei has left the Spaniards, returned to join Shanghai Port, but the Spaniards are still carefully cultivating a 17-year-old local star Yang Xi, he has been sitting in the U19 ladder team as the main force, the future is expected to replace Wu Lei to become the team's new star.
In the Swiss Super League, Chinese giants Grasshoppers are following the Spaniards' model. They are focusing on creating new stars for the Chinese men's soccer team, as represented by Li Lei, 30, who is the only player to play in Europe's top leagues since Wu Lei's return to China. He has made 14 appearances for Grasshoppers, scoring no goals but contributing one assist. Li Lei served as the team's mainstay, but with age and the team's strength, he will soon return to his home country.
Li Lei's contract with Grasshopper is set to expire in June 2023. Currently, there is no hope of a contract extension and the possibility of an early return has increased. Due to Grasshoppers' winter introduction of Japanese defender Megumi Hara, the team is over-represented in terms of non-European players. According to the Swiss Super League rules, each team can only register 6 non-European players, Grasshoppers now have 7 non-European players, Li Lei may be squeezed out by Hara Keiki.
Grasshoppers seem intent on making a move for Li Lei and have officially announced the introduction of national youth striker Jaboyan to the first team. Jaboyan joined Grasshoppers at the start of last year and was loaned out to Croatian second division side Dubrava, where he played occasionally for the first team. Grasshoppers have officially announced that they have recalled Jia Boyan to train with the first team. 19-year-old Jia Boyan is pictured alongside Li Lei in a photo released by the club, showing the positive side of the Chinese men's footballers staying in the country.
Jaboyan has also been recognized by national brand coaches. He played for Dubrava in Croatia late last year and represented the U22 national soccer team, scoring at one point to help Dubrava beat the U22 national soccer team. Coach Cheng Yaodong recalled Jia Boyan during his absence from the tournament and after a short investigation praised him for his remarkable progress after a few months in the ocean. Subsequently, Jia Boyan has been scoring goals in Dubrava's first-team cup matches and his performance has gradually improved. Jaboyan is expected to replace Li Lei and influence the Grasshoppers first team squad, but his appearance in the Grasshoppers first team is only a staged test. He will continue to play for Dubrava after the winter, with six months left on his lease, when he will play steadily and is expected to officially join Grasshoppers' first team in the new season.
