Sweeping Out the Door! Chinese Super League Giant Explodes, 5 Players Leave Together, Disbandment Suspense Exposed, No Chance for Championship
A storm of "sweeping out the door" has completely overturned Shanghai Shenhua's off-season. This once-deep-rooted Chinese Super League giant is now embroiled in an anti-corruption storm, with five players leaving collectively, leaving the management on thin ice. Even worse, before the season has even begun, Shenhua's hopes of winning the championship have already become a bubble. This "big cleanup" is not only a reflection on the team's current situation but also reflects the deep-seated problems of the Chinese Super League: a dual crisis of player quality and professional conduct.
In the 2024 season, Shanghai Shenhua once came close to the Chinese Super League championship with its stunning performance. However, the turmoil during the off-season has plunged this old powerhouse into a quagmire. The continuous fermentation of the anti-corruption storm has made the team a focus. According to "Football News," in the second batch of banned lists, Shenhua players were listed again, following Sun Shilin and Zhu Jianrong, veteran Qin Sheng was also unable to escape.
Even more shocking is the "escape" behavior of former general manager Zhou Jun, which directly pushed Shenhua onto the cusp of public opinion. News of the departure of five players followed one after another. First was the meritorious veteran Cao Yunding, who was once a symbolic figure of Shenhua but has seen a severe decline in form in recent years, with constant conflicts with the head coach. His professionalism has been repeatedly questioned, and Shenhua has decided not to retain him.
Next, foreign aid Malele was also "swept out the door." Although the Swiss forward had good statistics last season, his mediocre performance in key matches sparked speculation from the outside world, and he was even suspected of "match-fixing." Shenhua chose to terminate his contract, preferring to look for new strong reinforcements.
On the domestic player side, Jinyangyang, Wen Jiabao, and Xu Yougang were also cleared out of the team due to various controversies. Although these three have excellent abilities, their off-field controversies have damaged the team's image.
Such a large-scale personnel adjustment inevitably makes people worry about Shenhua's competitiveness in the new season. What makes fans even more distressed is that the Chinese Football Association is likely to impose heavy penalties on Shenhua. Deduction of points, fines, and other punishment measures are under discussion. Although the team will not face relegation or disbandment for the time being, the hope of winning the championship this season is minimal.
Shenhua's management is now walking on thin ice, needing to deal with external pressure while reshaping the team culture internally.
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Impact of the Anti-Corruption Storm
Shenhua is deeply embroiled in the anti-corruption storm, with core players successively listed on the banned list. Sun Shilin, Qin Sheng, and others have long been plagued by negative news. This time, they were cleared out of the team, which is both a rectification of internal discipline and an important part of the Chinese Super League's purification campaign. However, the departure of many main players has also dealt a fatal blow to the team's competitiveness.
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The Duality of Foreign Aid Performance
Malele's departure has sparked heated discussions. The Swiss striker had impressive statistics last season but frequently "dropped the ball" at critical moments. There is speculation from the outside world that he may be deliberately "acting," although there is no concrete evidence, it has already shaken the trust of the management. Shenhua chose to give up on him to avoid continued passivity in public opinion. -
Warning of Team Culture and Management
Cao Yunding's departure is an important signal for the reshaping of Shenhua's culture. As an old guard, his abilities are unquestionable, but off-field controversies and professional attitude issues have always plagued the team. It seems that the Shenhua management is determined to thoroughly clean up players with negative influences to promote the team's development towards greater professionalism.
List of Five Departures:
Cao Yunding: Former midfield core, constantly questioned for professionalism.
Malele: Swiss striker, contributed multiple key goals last season but had significant ups and downs in form.
Jinyangyang: Defensive stalwart, terminated due to off-field controversies.
Wen Jiabao: Promising newcomer, left due to off-field behavioral issues.
Xu Yougang: Young midfielder, considered unable to fit into the team's direction of development.
Current Status and Future of the Squad:
Currently, Shenhua's squad faces huge uncertainty. Foreign aid urgently needs to strengthen the front line, and whether new recruits can quickly integrate will directly affect the team's opening performance. Among domestic players, young echelons may get more opportunities, but it will be difficult to fill the gaps left by the loss of main players in the short term.
Data Comparison:
Although Shenhua performed strongly overall in the 2024 season, the strength of the squad has plummeted after the anti-corruption storm. Taking Malele as an example, he contributed 12 goals last season, but the missed goal-scoring opportunities in key battles made him the focus. The team's offensive efficiency and defensive stability will be severely affected.
"Is this big cleanup of Shanghai Shenhua a pain or a rebirth?" An old-fashioned giant struggles in the turmoil, with five departures, management turmoil, and banned lists. Behind these reflect deep-seated problems of team culture and the degree of professionalization. If the Chinese Super League wants to truly rise, it is far from enough to rely solely on purification; the establishment of professional standards is fundamental. But the question is, can a heritage giant like Shenhua withstand such turmoil?