As the year 2025 approaches, preparations for the new season have begun in full swing for various clubs in the Chinese Super League (CSL). The veteran powerhouse Beijing Guoan has already completed the first phase of their winter training. After the New Year's Day holiday, the team will head to Haikou for the second phase of winter training.
Earlier this month, Beijing Guoan officially signed with Spanish coach Quique Setien. In the second phase of winter training, Setien will lead the team in person to practice new formations and tactics. This Spanish coach, who once managed the La Liga giant Barcelona, is very fond of using a passing and possession style of play, which can help Guoan rediscover their most adept tactical approach.
In terms of new signings, according to the latest news, Serginho will make his official debut with the team during the second phase of Guoan's winter training. Currently, the procedures for Serginho's naturalization are being expedited, and if all goes well, he can become an official Chinese player before March. At that time, Serginho will not only be able to represent Guoan in the CSL as a domestic player but also participate in the 18-team tournament with the national team.
Regarding domestic players, due to participating in the 18-team tournament with the national team, Guoan's Zhang Yuning, Lin Liangming, and Li Lei all suffered varying degrees of injuries, so they did not participate in the first phase of Guoan's winter training. Currently, the injuries of these three national team members have basically healed. However, they still cannot participate in Guoan's winter training because they need to report to the national team on January 8 to participate in the first short-term training camp of the national team in 2025.
For foreign players, Guga, Engadu, and Fabio Wu will return next year to join the team for the second phase of winter training. Since they missed the first phase of physical conditioning, they will need to work harder to catch up.
Last season, Guoan was one of the few teams in the CSL to use two foreign central defenders. By the end of this year, Mamadou's contract with the club expired, and it has been confirmed that he will leave the team. Engadu's contract with the club also has only half a year left, and there were previous media reports that Engadu might join a club in the Saudi league next season. However, at present, Guoan does not intend to let go of this defensive general, and the club needs to renew the contract with this Cameroonian central defender as soon as possible. Otherwise, Engadu will be able to transfer freely next summer.
In addition, Guoan Club is currently actively looking for new domestic players. According to reports, Guoan is expected to sign two national-level domestic central defenders, Wu Shaocong and Wei Zhen.
The 24-year-old Wu Shaocong is in the prime of his career and has been playing in Europe for the past two seasons. However, he has not been successful in the Turkish Super League and has been unable to establish himself in the team. This season, Wu Shaocong was loaned to Radomiak in the Polish league, but he still could not become a regular starter.
Despite this, Wu Shaocong is still very hopeful of being selected for the latest national team training squad. It can be said that Wu Shaocong is one of the best central defenders among players of the same age. Moreover, he has undergone long-term football training in Beijing, which adds a lot of hope for him to join Guoan.
Wei Zhen is also a key target for Guoan's recruitment. Currently, his contract with Shanghai Port has expired, but he has not renewed a new contract with the club. If everything goes smoothly, Guoan is very hopeful of signing this 27-year-old national team central defender in the winter transfer window.
As one of the top four teams in the CSL last season, Guoan qualified for the AFC Champions League secondary league. Next season, they will compete on three fronts, which will test the depth of the team's bench. Players like Yang Liyu, Fang Hao, He Yupeng, and Feng Boxuan, who are close to national team level, will also receive heavy use from coach Setien. It is hoped that they can seize the opportunity to showcase their true abilities in the league and become key rotational players for the team.