China Super League
ODION IGHALO MAKES LAST-DITCH SHANGHAI SHENHUA PLEA TO REMAIN AT MAN UTD
Nigeria’s Odion Ighalo is due to return to China next week. But he carries two heavy burdens. The first is the fears of returning to the breading ground of the current coronavirus pandemic.
The second is sporting headache – being cut off from Manchester United, a club he had loved from childhood. It is at the Premiership club that his football career suddenly received a global rejuvenation.
While the suspended Premiership is due to resume on June 12, the China Super League is resuming next week thus compelling Ighalo to return.
According to sources in UK, Ighalo had made pleas with his parent club Shanghai Shenhua to allow him to extend his stay at Manchester United after negotiations between the two sides broke down.
The 30-year-old forward has been on loan at Old Trafford since January and has impressed in his brief spell, scoring four goals in eight appearances before football was suspended.
His deal is due to end on May 31, however, which would have marked the end of the season in normal circumstances.
Due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis, however, the Premier League season could be set to be concluded over June and July, and as of yet Shenhua and United have not reached an agreement to allow Ighalo to stay for that period.
The loss of Ighalo would come as a blow to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who may be forced to rely on the recovering Marcus Rashford up-front despite the England striker having not played a competitive match since January after injuring his back.
Ighalo himself would also no doubt be devastated if he is unable to continue to prove his worth at United, especially as he has often spoken of his long-running love for the club.
He is now due to speak to Shenhua himself in a bid to convince them to change their minds and come to a resolution with United, but it is thought his chances of success hang very much in the balance.
Shenhua have not played since December due to their domestic season being postponed as a result of coronavirus, which was due to start in February, but will now begin next month.
They offered Ighalo a two-year contract extension earlier this year worth £400,000 per week, but Ighalo would rather stay at Old Trafford.
It was reported that Shenhua would be willing to accept a fee of £20million to part company with Ighalo, but as yet there have been no discussions over a permanent switch.
China Super League
China bans players with tattoos
Chinese authorities have banned footballers from getting tattoos and instructed national team players who have been inked to remove or cover them up to set a “good example for society”.
A growing number of high-profile Chinese players have been sporting tattoos, including international defender Zhang Linpeng, who has previously been told to cover up while appearing for both the national team and club side Guangzhou FC.
The General Administration of Sport of China (GAS) said in a statement headed, “Suggestions for strengthening the management of football players” that the Chinese Football Association would set out disciplinary requirements for national team players.
“National teams at all levels will strictly implement the relevant requirements of the management measures … (and) fully demonstrate the positive spirit of Chinese football players and set a good example for society,” it said.
It also said that for teams at Under 20 level and below the recruitment of players with tattoos was “strictly prohibited”.
The GAS added that national teams should organise “ideological and political education activities” that would “strengthen the patriotic education” of players.
Doing so would “enhance the sense of mission, responsibility and honour, and create a national team capable of conquering and fighting well and with excellent style of play”, it added.
China’s national team have failed to qualify for the World Cup finals since making their debut appearance in 2002 and look set to miss out on Qatar 2022.
-Reuters
China Super League
ODION IGHALO’S MANCHESTER UNITED DAYS GETTING OVER
Former Super Eagles’ hit man, Odion Ighalo is having his last days at his dream club, Manchester United as the extension granted by his Chinese club side, Shanghai Shenhua is nearing an end.
The extension lapses in January 2021. Even though Ighalo made instant impact when he initially joined the North England side, his influence has waned considerably to the extent that he had just nine minute of action in the current season of the Premier League.
Attention of Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is more on how to maximize the signing of Uruguayan striker, Edinson Cavani.
China Super League
OBAFEMI MARTINS PASSES CORONAVIRUS TEST IN CHINA
Former Super Eagles’ hitman, Obafemi Martins who at his peak was nicknamed ‘Obagoal’ is among players in the Chinese Super League who passed the Covid-19 test.
The reports have it that all players in the country where coronavirus originated last December have tested negative for COVID-19 as the season prepares to kick off on Saturday.
The campaign will begin after a five-month delay from the scheduled start, state news agency Xinhua reported.
A total of 1,870 individuals from the tournament’s two hubs – Suzhou near Shanghai and Dalian in the northeast of China – have undergone medical checks.
None of them tested positive for the disease that has caused havoc around the world, the report said.
Players and officials from the 16 participating teams will be confined to their hotel and parts of the stadiums and tests will be conducted once a week during the tournament, it added.
The CSL was originally scheduled to start on February 22 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Teams will play a round robin with the top four qualifying for an eight-team ‘championship’ stage and the bottom four from each group going into a ‘relegation’ phase.
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