On the last day of 2024, an announcement from Shanghai Shenhua sparked heated discussions among fans. The team announced that it would not renew contracts with several players upon their expiration and also prematurely terminated its contract with a young player surnamed Wen (full name Wen Jia Bao, referred to as "Little Wen" in the media due to naming conventions). This former rising star of the national football team, who fell prematurely, now faces the awkward situation of being "fired" before his contract ends, which is truly heart-wrenching.
Wen Jia Bao, the left-back born in 1999, showed remarkable football talent at a young age. His technical characteristics are distinct, with a strong sense of the overall game, and he has performed well on both offense and defense. In defense, he can accurately predict the opponent's passing lines, timely position himself and make tackles to regain possession for the team; in attack, he possesses certain abilities to assist by joining the play, effectively cooperating with midfielders and forwards to create scoring opportunities for the team.
However, in recent years, Wen's professional performance has been unsatisfactory. In 2017, Wen made a name for himself in the Chinese Super League, starting 8 games for Guangzhou Evergrande, playing 217 minutes, and winning the league championship with the team, breaking the record for the youngest starting U23 player after the implementation of the U23 policy, which was quite glorious. But since then, his career has been on a downward trajectory.
In 2019, Wen joined Tianjin Tianhai Football Club on loan, only playing 10 times throughout the season, and in one match, he was sent off with a direct red card for malicious tackling after coming on as a substitute, reflecting his immature mentality in the game. In 2020, Wen joined Shanghai Shenhua as a free agent. In his first season with the team, he played 20 times in the league, starting 14 times, topping the list of playing time for Shanghai Shenhua players in the Chinese Super League, and was also selected into the most valuable 11-man squad of the Chinese Super League and ranked third in the 2020 China Golden Boy Award. However, what was unexpected was that his playing opportunities became fewer and fewer afterward.
In 2022, Wen suffered a ligament tear while playing for the U23 national team in the "Dubai Cup" in the UAE, which caused him to miss the first few rounds of the league's first stage and affected his training and coordination with the team. In 2024, despite Shanghai Shenhua winning the runner-up in the Chinese Super League, Wen did not play a single game in the 30 rounds of the league, becoming an extra on the team.
In summary, the reasons for Wen's abandonment by Shanghai Shenhua are mainly as follows: First, the impact of injuries cannot be underestimated. Multiple injuries have caused him to miss many games and training sessions, affecting his physical condition and causing problems in his coordination with the team, making it difficult for him to find a stable position within the team.
Secondly, with the increase in age and league experience, Wen's progress in technology and tactics is not obvious enough, not fitting well with the team's tactical system, and unable to meet the team's tactical needs in different matches. Moreover, the continuous adjustment of the team lineup and the intensification of competition are also important factors. Shanghai Shenhua has introduced many excellent players in recent years, and the competition for the full-back position has become increasingly fierce. Wen gradually lost his advantage in the competition, ultimately leading to his disuse.
Regardless of the reasons, a 25-year-old local young talent, a hope of the national team, faded away like a flower prematurely, which is truly heart-wrenching.