May 2, Beijing time, Guangdong sports channel reporter Zhou Jianwen disclosed, talking about the transfer to the seaport team, Zhang Linpeng revealed that he has no intention to leave the team, this time to leave is only temporary.
Here's what Jianwen Zhou has been up to on his Twitter account:
Recently, my colleague and I visited Wuhua, Meizhou to witness the arrival of Meizhou Hakka's new foreign aid and need to follow up on this story. Meanwhile, Yin Hongbo has been joining the team for training for a few weeks and we took the opportunity to visit our old friend. Talking about his beloved pupil, the club's general manager Cao Yang was full of praise in the interview. I asked, "How do you think Yin Hongbo has improved compared to when he left Guangdong?" Cao Yang responded with a smile, "You can't say that, he's always been outstanding." Although Yin Hongbo is no longer a former owner of Guangdong Rizhiquan, there are still many familiar faces in the team: general manager Cao Yang is his mentor, team leader Li Weijun, captain Shi Liang, and goalkeeper Hou Yu are all former teammates who have played alongside each other in the past in China B, China A, and the National Games. Yin Hongbo's joining the team reminds me of a Hong Kong drama line, "The most important thing for a family is to be neat and tidy."
When Yin Hongbo left Guangdong, it was not Cao Yang's first choice. He wanted his protégé to develop on a higher platform, but didn't want him to stray too far, so he contacted Guangzhou R&F. However, R&F, who were in full force to qualify for the AFC Champions League, did not take a liking to the slightly thin midfielder who lacked experience in the top flight, and only offered him a low-salary contract. Henan Jianye, on the other hand, saw his potential and brought him to Zhengzhou on attractive terms. Yin Hongbo proved himself worthy of a higher package with his strength, growing from a Central League 1 player to a popular international. After coming to Wuhua, he did not rent a room like other players, thinking that the conditions of the base dormitory were already very good, and that he only needed to set it up with care to make it comfortable and pleasant. In addition, for him who is used to the big city, the days in Wuhua city are not very attractive, and living in the base can save commuting time. He specially purchased a tea table, sofa and massage chair, weekdays with teammates tea, watching movies, although slightly monotonous, but has a sense of security.
The 2009 Shandong National Games was an unforgettable experience for me, and perhaps even more so for Yin Hongbo. Recently, we talked about the Games and marveled at the passage of time. Most of his rivals have become friends, and he knows that Guo Zichao is now in charge of the Guangdong women's soccer team, and that Li Jian, who almost joined Dongya, has switched to the entertainment industry. That year's National Games generation was full of stories, and a red card in the U20 men's soccer final not only changed the course of the championship, but also changed the trajectory of the lives of Guangdong and Shanghai players.
Zhang Linpeng is a nostalgic person. 11 years ago, he never thought he would leave Chongming Island, even when his mentor Xu Genbao informed him that he needed to sell him for the survival of the team, he still couldn't accept it. I remember in the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, I was covering the National Olympic team at the Galaxy Sports Center and Zhang Linpeng was interviewed by us after the game. When asked about the rumors of joining Evergrande, Linpeng immediately denied it and showed a disgruntled expression, but six months later, he appeared at the launch of Evergrande's newest addition. 11 years later, Zhang Linpeng, who had never thought of leaving Guangzhou, is facing the decision of his life once again. In the second phase of last season's Chinese Super League, Linpeng accepted my interview, and his feelings for Guangzhou made the iron defender instantly burst into tears. After the interview, he said that even if Guangzhou let him re-sign the contract, as long as the treatment is within the reasonable range of the FA's salary limit, he will choose to stay in the team without hesitation. However, the reality is even more cruel, Guangzhou team's new salary structure is almost unable to maintain Zhang Linpeng's normal life, leaving his only choice.
On the day of the official announcement at Shanghai Seaport, I WeChatted Lynn to wish him well and hope that he would record a parting video, but he immediately called back to say that he wasn't planning to leave as the departure was only temporary - which sounded quite interesting.
In the post-golden dollar era, it has become a luxury for most players to find a club where they can play with peace of mind. Yin Hongbo and Zhang Linpeng, as current international players, are also caught up in the huge difficulties of professional soccer in China. Returning to their "old home" is full of emotions, not to mention returning to the place where their dreams began. However, returning to one's roots before one's leaves have fallen is, in my opinion, full of compromises and perhaps a little bit of reluctance. But at least, there are no unpaid wages here.
