On August 6, the news spread, Wu Lei officially announced that he will bid farewell to the overseas journey to Shanghai seaport. In the last hours of Spain, Yan Xu reporter and As newspaper counterparts talk, the topic is naturally inseparable from Wu Lei, Spaniards, national football and so on.
What has Wu Lei gained from being in a foreign country?
"There were quite a few surprises, and what turned out to be lesser-known club operations, from youth training to women's soccer to the lower leagues, was an eye-opening journey that went far beyond anything I could have imagined."
What do you particularly remember about the Spaniards as a team?
"The team is in a special environment, neighboring popular clubs and forming a close-knit family. There is a negative side, but whenever a crucial battle against Barcelona comes, unity becomes the main theme."
Can you bring that vibe back to China?
"It is quite difficult. Some people in the country seem to be fans of Wu Lei, but in fact, they expect his career to be frustrated, and they are criticizing and destroying his image. Fortunately, the situation is gradually improving. As the only Chinese journalist covering the Spaniards, these three years have been grueling for me."
Will Wu Lei's departure cause the Spaniard to lose his many Chinese fans?
"Without Wu Lei, 95% of Chinese fans will leave. They don't really love the club, they are just proud that Chinese players are in this league. Only 5% of Chinese fans will continue to follow Espanyol, that's what I've observed."
"Translated into numbers, it may only be hundreds or thousands, but looking at social media, that's more fans than the likes of Villarreal, Betis, Real Sociedad and so on.
"Wu Lei played for Spaniards for three and a half years before Chinese fans started to pay attention to the team. I don't think Spaniards will sign another Chinese player, there is a lack of players of this level in the country."
How would La Liga be in your country without Chinese players?
"It is lucky for Chinese soccer to have a player playing in La Liga. If Wu Lei had been born in Spain, he could have reached a higher level with his talent and mentality. But at home, the situation could be different. Women's soccer is slightly better, but the current situation is not good. Frankly speaking, Chinese people prefer movies and TV programs to soccer."
What is the interest in soccer in the country?
"During World Cup qualifying, people don't really seem to care about the team unless they win. This environment is not conducive to projects that are long term and require patience, calm and determination."
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