Zhang Yu made very few appearances in the Chinese Super League last season, and appeared to be a dispensable defender for Changchun Yatai. With his career at a crossroads, Zhang Yu has had to re-plan his future, and has once again set out to find a new home team. Not long ago, he traveled to Dalian for a trial, a news that many fans were looking forward to. After all, Dalian were short of defenders, and Zhang Yu's arrival would undoubtedly strengthen the team. However, perhaps due to a lack of systematic training and competition, Zhang Yu did not perform as well as he should have during his trial with Dalian. Dalian's manager Xie Hui, after a thorough examination, believes that he does not meet the team's needs.
As a result, Zhang Yu rubbed shoulders with Dalian and he had to move to Central League One side Qingdao Youth Island. Many Guoan fans deplored the fact that a defender in his prime had to be relegated to the Central League. They couldn't help but lament that if Zhang Yu had stayed at Guoan, he might have become a mainstay of the team by now. With two local center-backs, Yu Dabao and Yu Yang, in the twilight of their careers, and a growing talent gap in the backline, there is an urgent need for a mid-career player like Zhang Yu to take up the slack. If Zhang Yu is able to stay in the team, he may well be able to buck the trend and become a starter for Guoan. We wish Zhang Yu the best of luck in his new home, and hope that he can realize his long-cherished dream of returning to Guan An as soon as possible.
