From the first acquaintance to the official hand in hand, Artemisia and Wuhan team hand in hand the road is quite twisted. At the beginning of the year, Wuhan offered the
national soccer team
The captain extended the olive branch, but the whole process was always shrouded in mystery. Until the end of this month, the transfer matters ushered in substantive progress. From this point of view, Artemisia joined the Wuhan team, like a long time after the secret love after the "flash marriage".
Pursue opportunities from March
At the end of last year, shortly after Shandong Taishan won the AFC Cup, rumors circulated about Artemisia Junmin joining Wuhan next season. One compelling reason was that former manager Li Xiaopeng would be coaching in the Jiangcheng city. He coached the Shandong
Luneng (city in Shandong)
During this period, a deep friendship was established with Artemisia. In addition, Artemisia's playing time in the second half of the season decreased sharply, and even in the AFC Cup final only 45 minutes of play was replaced, a change of environment may be more conducive to the continuation of his career.
However, with Artemisia still under contract with Shandong Taishan for one more year and on a higher annual salary signed several years ago, his move is more likely to be completed by the end of 2021. Nonetheless, Wuhan still sees him as a top reinforcement target. Especially after the first half of the first phase of the Chinese Super League, Wuhan only gained 4 points and ranked second last in the Suzhou division, Artemisia's importance to the team is self-evident.
As early as in March this year, Wuhan made contact with Artemisia. At that time, Taishan team is in Shanghai spring training, the national team is also in Shanghai closed preparation, Artemisia stay in Jinan due to injury. During this time, Wuhan launched a "heart attack" strategy for Artemisia, and there were even rumors that a team member flew directly to Jinan to talk to the player. However, Artemisia preferred to stay in Jinan for at least one more season. A factor that cannot be ignored is that he still has one year left on his contract. In addition, Artemis has never won a Chinese Super League title in his career, although he has won the AFC Cup and Super Cup several times. With the big picture of the league in the 2021 season, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Taishan to make an offer to him for a shot at the CSL title.
Therefore, after much consideration, Artemisia did not choose to leave Shandong at the beginning of this year. But the Wuhan team has always been in pursuit of its full sincerity. Informed sources believe that Artemisia is more likely to make a choice at the end of the season, "35 years old to return to his roots, it is not impossible."
Four factors contributed to the early transfer
Originally expected, even if Artemisia joins the Wuhan team, but also the probability to wait until the end of this year contract expires. But ultimately why half a year earlier sail? The primary reason is still Wuhan team and Artemisia's strong will.
In fact, for Artemisia is to go or stay, Shandong Taishan's attitude is relatively open. If he continues to stay in the team to play, the club will warmly welcome; if he is bent on going back to his roots, will not take a tough attitude to stay, which is Artemisia can be a key factor in the transfer of free body. However, Wuhan are now desperate for him. It is understood that after leading the Chinese team to qualify for the Top 12, Wuhan had another in-depth conversation with Artemis, expressing strong expectations that he would join the team early this summer. In fact, in order to better cope with the relegation battle, Wuhan team recently attracted huge investment, in addition to the signing of Brazilian striker Lopez from Sapporo, but also successively purchased Liu Junxian, Chen Yuhao two 20-year-old national youth players.
Wuhan's all-out pursuit was only one of the factors that led to the transfer, and the real decision still lies with Artemisia herself. However, since entering the 2021 season, Artemisia's playing time at Taishan has continued to decrease, even accumulating only 19 minutes in the first five rounds of the league. From the perspective of continuing his career and maintaining his competitive status, the 34-year-old Artemisia needs to play now, not to mention the need to prepare for the second half of the Top 12 tournament. Obviously, compared to the overcrowded midfield of Shandong Taishan, Wuhan team platform and conditions, more conducive to Artemisia to achieve this goal.
Another factor that cannot be ignored is Artemisia's hometown complex. Although he left Wuhan for Tianjin when he was a child, Artemisia has a deep affection for the city of Jiangcheng, in addition to often returning to Wuhan for vacation, he participated in the National Games 16 years ago, also on behalf of the Hubei team. But in the field of professional soccer, Artemisia has never paid any effort for his hometown team, this time to return to his roots, but also to fulfill one of his dreams for many years. In contrast, when he was introduced to the Shandong
Luneng (city in Shandong)
A few of the national grid executives, the past few years began to gradually fade out of the soccer world, including the club experienced last summer's shareholding restructuring, but also Sun Hua and other old leaders from the club's management withdrawn. This huge change in the objective environment, but also to some extent prompted Artemisia Junmin sprouted "a change of environment" idea.
Of course, due to the strict salary limitation system started to be implemented in the Chinese Super League, Artemisia can sign with Shandong Taishan after the expiration of his contract at the end of this year, the annual salary rate, than in the past, will have a significant drop (5 million yuan before tax). But this figure, is not unacceptable to the Wuhan team. In the case of treatment conditions are not very different, Artemisia finally in the twilight of his career choose to return to their roots, is also a logical thing.
Green light all the way, happy to welcome the new owner
At noon on the 24th, Artemisia Junmin, who has confirmed an immediate transfer to Wuhan, organized a small farewell ceremony within the Taishan team. That night he flew straight to Suzhou, and the new owner to complete the meeting. Regarding this transfer, Artemisia said, "Thank you for Taishan's understanding and support, and thank you for the club's green light all the way, without setting any obstacles." Talking about the ten-year journey in the Taishan team, he is full of gratitude, "Ten years spent here in life so important, so memorable, so good a period of time. Ten years in orange, there will be a parting, it is difficult to say goodbye."
About Artemisia's transfer, Wuhan team and Taishan team are fully supported. Shandong team did not charge any transfer fee, the new owner also made some concessions in the level of treatment, so in the personal statement released by the letter, Artemisia said the most words are "thank you". There is no doubt that this is a happy transfer.
As for the length of the contract to sign with the new owner, Wuhan has not been disclosed. However, sources said that given the impetus of this introduction of Artemisia, not only in the first team and the club, the Wuhan authorities are also very welcome to this
national soccer team
Captain home, Artemis is likely to stay in his hometown team for a long time in the future, and does not even rule out a part-time role as a first-team coach before retiring.
