Shenhua retains Cahill, Gyan signs for rival SIPG
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AUSTRALIA’S Tim Cahill keeps his place in the Shanghai Greenland Shenhua squad after the Chinese Super League side decided to offload Brazilian striker Paulo Henrique for newly signed Senegal international Demba Ba.
“It was a very hard decision to make ... the club and the coaches pondered over it for long time,” Greenland Shenhua said in a statement on its official weibo.com account yesterday.
Two weeks ago, the club replaced Zambian defender Stoppila Sunzu with Mali international Mohamed Sissoko during the mid-season transfer window, which shuts on July 16.
“Greenland Shenhua FC has completed the registration of Demba Ba today,” the statement said. “We sincerely thank Sunzu and Henrique for their contribution to the team. We will listen to their wishes and make further plans accordingly.”
The players can continue to be with the club in the reserves or loaned out to another team.
Shenhua fans took to the social media after news broke that Sunzu and Henrique — both equally popular — were leaving.
“They are great players, but unfortunately they tend to get injured often,” wrote a fan identified only as Blues. “The club is very practical. It is a pity (that it didn’t work out for them) and I wish them all the best!”
There was lot of speculation last month about the future of Shenhua’s big-name import Cahill after a relatively poor start to his CSL career in the first half of the season. The former Everton player could only manage one goal — a penalty — in 13 outings for the club.
But the Australian is popular with the fans. Cahill also gave the team bosses something to ponder about by suddenly finding his golden touch — scoring three goals in four games that eventually sealed his position.
Cahill is also reportedly helping Sissoko and Demba Ba settle down in Shanghai. The trio are old acquaintances from their days in the English Premier League.
Greenland Shenhua is away at Tianjin Teda today in their next CSL match. Shenhua’s French manager Francis Gillot confirmed yesterday that Demba Ba would be making his CSL debut in the game.
Greenland Shenhua is seventh in the league with 22 points. The club had said previously that it was keen to finish in the top-six this season.
Meanwhile, Asamoah Gyan has inked a two-year deal with Shenhua rival, Shanghai SIPG, the Ghana skipper confirmed yesterday.
The 29-year-old striker confirmed on his official website that he had signed a contract, which has an option for a renewal, after completing a routine medical. Terms of the deal were not disclosed but local media has reported he would be earning in excess of the US$250,000 per week he was receiving at UAE champions Al Ain.
A report on Gyan’s website said the club would hold an official unveiling when SIPG returns from Sunday’s league match at Guangzhou R&F.
Gyan was immensely popular during his four-year stint at Al Ain, where he scored 95 goals in 83 matches, but the Emirati team said the offer from the title-chasing Chinese side was too good to refuse, according to Reuters.
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