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China star Wu Lei celebrates Espanyol’s return to La Liga before World Cup duty
- Chinese-owned Spanish side secure instant promotion from Segunda Division with four games left of the season
- Forward will soon leave Spain to join up with national team ahead of vital World Cup qualifiers
China’s star footballer Wu Lei celebrated with his Espanyol teammates this weekend after the Chinese-owned club secured their return to the Spanish top flight.
Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Real Zaragoza ensured that the Barcelona-based side, owned by China’s Rastar Group, were promoted at the first time of asking, with four games left of the season.
It also reinstated Wu as the only Chinese player in one of Europe’s “big five” leagues – Spain’s La Liga, the English Premier League, Italy’s Serie A, the German Bundesliga and France’s Ligue 1.
Wu played for Espanyol in La Liga in the previous two seasons and he was a key part of the side but has been reduced to a bit part player this season in the Segunda Division.
The 29-year-old played 31 minutes on Saturday, coming off the bench once again. He has been on the bench for the last 22 games.
Nonetheless, Wu was heavily involved in celebrations on the pitch in Zaragoza and then on Sunday when the players were welcomed home by fans at Espanyol’s Cornella Stadium in Barcelona. Wu was one of the players to take the microphone.
Wu Lei told to leave Espanyol with China’s World Cup dream in focus
Wu committed his future to Espanyol last summer despite reported interest from clubs in England and Turkey but then fell out of favour with manager Vicente Moreno, his third boss since arriving in Spain in January, 2019.
He is soon expected to return to China ahead of their Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifiers that begin later this month.
The Chinese Super League announced that it will postpone Henan Songshan Longmen vs Guangzhou FC and Beijing Guoan vs Hebei FC to let the national team camp begin earlier.
China’s star footballer Wu Lei celebrated with his Espanyol teammates this weekend after the Chinese-owned club secured their return to the Spanish top flight.
Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Real Zaragoza ensured that the Barcelona-based side, owned by China’s Rastar Group, were promoted at the first time of asking, with four games left of the season.
It also reinstated Wu as the only Chinese player in one of Europe’s “big five” leagues – Spain’s La Liga, the English Premier League, Italy’s Serie A, the German Bundesliga and France’s Ligue 1.
Wu played for Espanyol in La Liga in the previous two seasons and he was a key part of the side but has been reduced to a bit part player this season in the Segunda Division.
The 29-year-old played 31 minutes on Saturday, coming off the bench once again. He has been on the bench for the last 22 games.
Nonetheless, Wu was heavily involved in celebrations on the pitch in Zaragoza and then on Sunday when the players were welcomed home by fans at Espanyol’s Cornella Stadium in Barcelona. Wu was one of the players to take the microphone.
Wu committed his future to Espanyol last summer despite reported interest from clubs in England and Turkey but then fell out of favour with manager Vicente Moreno, his third boss since arriving in Spain in January, 2019.
He is soon expected to return to China ahead of their Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifiers that begin later this month.
The Chinese Super League announced that it will postpone Henan Songshan Longmen vs Guangzhou FC and Beijing Guoan vs Hebei FC to let the national team camp begin earlier.