Recently, Beijing Team has made a significant announcement in the transfer market, successfully signing a player who can be considered to have reached the standards of a European powerhouse, and the entire signing process was completed at "lightning speed," taking only 3 days. This transfer move has caused quite a stir in the Chinese Super League (CSL) and has also generated great anticipation among fans for Beijing Team's new season. Let us delve into the details of this remarkable signing process together.
Previously, due to the team's unsatisfactory coaching performance, Beijing Team made the decision to change coaches early on. As early as the summer transfer window, the club had basically reached a cooperation agreement with Weiss, but because his team advanced to the Champions League knockout stage and he couldn't spare the time, he ultimately couldn't come to coach, which could be considered a missed opportunity for both sides.
By the time of this winter transfer window, the selection of a new coach continued to progress, and former foreign aid, Biella, played a key role in connecting the two parties. He introduced Beijing Team to the renowned coach, Setien. Initially, neither side held high expectations for substantive negotiations, considering Setien's resume of coaching top teams in Europe's five major leagues, the likelihood of such a high-level coach coming to coach in the CSL seemed minimal.
However, Beijing Team still showed great sincerity, inviting Setien to Beijing for exchanges despite the uncertain outcome. Setien arrived in Beijing on December 8th, and after arriving, he first visited Beijing Team's home stadium, the Workers' Stadium, as well as the team's training base, and provided professional suggestions based on what he saw. Subsequently, he engaged in an in-depth discussion with Beijing Team's management, with the club's chairman, Zhou Jinhui, and general manager, Li Ming, both attending. The two sides exchanged their intentions for cooperation during the discussion, candidly expressing their thoughts and expectations. It was precisely this communication filled with sincerity that sparked Setien's strong interest in coaching Beijing Team.
From December 8th to the early hours of December 11th, during these three short days of core face-to-face talks, both sides finalized the cooperation arrangements, and Setien ultimately decided to sign. In the new season, he will join the CSL and embark on a new chapter coaching Beijing Team.
Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that through reasonable communication, Beijing Team completed this signing within a reasonable expenditure range. The new coach's salary is not much different from last season, ensuring the quality of the team's recruitment while also considering cost control, demonstrating the club's increasingly mature approach to recruitment operations.
This time, Beijing Guoan's signing of Setien has surprised and excited many people, but there are also some controversial opinions. Some media figures point out that although Setien has rich coaching experience and has coached La Liga giants like Barcelona, he also faced considerable criticism during his time at Barcelona, especially the "conflict" with Messi, which was endlessly magnified by the outside world. Moreover, whether he will experience culture shock after leaving Spain to coach in East Asia remains to be seen. Some netizens also express concern that no matter how capable Setien is, it is crucial for Guoan to match the new coach's requirements in terms of funds and recruitment for the new season, given that Guoan once relied on special funds from the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau to pay wages.
However, supporters believe that Setien's passing and controlling style of play and attacking football align well with Beijing Guoan's football style, and his arrival is expected to help the team reach new heights in tactical concepts. Additionally, he excels at discovering and nurturing young players, which will be a significant benefit for Guoan's youth training system and the growth of young players. In summary, Setien's joining is both an opportunity and a challenge for Beijing Guoan. Where will he lead the team in the new season? Let us wait and see.