All foreign aids are in place, the defense has added reinforcements, and there are surprises in midfield. Shanghai Shenhua is set to dominate the championship race in 2025, with a chance to reach the top after 22 years!
In the 2024 season, Shanghai Shenhua narrowly missed the league title by just one point, leaving fans feeling regretful. In 2025, they will return to continue their pursuit of the championship. During the off-season, Shanghai Shenhua not only parted ways with Marele, who wasted many opportunities, but also added an extra layer of security to an already solid defense.
Marele scored 16 goals last season, including 4 penalties. The team felt he was too wasteful, so they decided to let him go. His replacement, Minero from Brazil, has arrived. However, fans are somewhat concerned about Minero, as his performance over the past two years has been average, and he has had heart bypass surgery and tendon injuries in his ankle, which could lead to him being sidelined at any time. Besides Minero, the other four foreign players of Shanghai Shenhua - Manafa, Amadou, Teixeira, and Luis - have all continued to stay with the team, which is quite remarkable.
Last season, Shanghai Shenhua conceded the fewest goals among all teams, only conceding 20 in 30 matches. It was their strong defensive capabilities that allowed them to keep up with Shanghai SIPG. After the season ended, head coach Slutsky seemed unsatisfied with the defense, so he brought in another reinforcement, Wang Shilong, a versatile defender from Guangzhou FC. Wang Shilong has long been a mainstay for Guangzhou FC, with very comprehensive skills that can meet various tactical needs. With Wang Shilong's addition, Slutsky now has more options for the new season lineup.
There are new additions in both the front and back lines, and there are surprises in midfield as well. Li Ke, a naturalized player from Beijing Guoan, will also join Shanghai Shenhua. Li Ke's contract with Beijing Guoan has expired, and the club was unwilling to offer him a renewal. Shanghai Shenhua took this opportunity to extend an olive branch. Faced with the possibility of winning the championship with Shanghai Shenhua in the new season, Li Ke naturally accepted the invitation. However, he will still need to compete for a starting position.
With the addition of strong reinforcements from the front to the back, Shanghai Shenhua's overall strength will be even better than in the 2024 season. Last season's biggest competitor, Shanghai SIPG, lost four foreign players and there seems to be no news of new signings yet. Given the current salary levels in the Chinese Super League, it will be difficult for Shanghai SIPG to find replacements for Oscar and Bargos. Last season's championship race was a two-horse race between Shanghai Shenhua and Shanghai SIPG, but in the new season, it looks like Shanghai Shenhua will stand alone.