Shenhua's boardroom drama may hurt star players
Source: AFP |
August 30, 2012, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ALL'S not well at Shanghai Shenhua.
Shenhua's billionaire chairman Zhu Jun is threatening to withhold the salaries of its foreign players unless other shareholders grant him majority control of the club.
That may not be good news to Shenhua's star players Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, according to a report in Titan Sports.
"If Zhu Jun cannot get the majority stake, he can only pay for foreign players based on his own stake," an unnamed club executive told the sports daily.
"Drogba, Anelka and (Colombian midfielder Giovanni) Moreno's salary cannot be guaranteed in future, and they may not be able to attend future matches," the paper quoted the official as saying.
Shenhua is bankrolled by Zhu, an online gaming tycoon, and the signings of the ex-Chelsea players - for reported salaries in excess of US$300,000 a week - made headlines around the world.
A showdown could come as early as Shenhua's next game at home to Liaoning Whowin in just over two weeks.
"Whether Drogba can play on September 15 remains a question, and we don't have the answer now," the official said.
According to Titan, Zhu wrote to Shenhua's big stakeholders, who are all state-owned companies, asking them to make good on an agreement to hand over majority control due to his heavy investment in the club. The newspaper said he had not received any replies.
The executive added: "The key is whether Drogba can play on September 15, not other matters. Speculation that Shenhua may apply for bankruptcy if Zhu Jun cannot get the stake is nonsense."
Drogba and Anelka both scored in Shenhua's last match, a 3-3 draw with Shandong Luneng. But Chinese media said Moreno missed the game because Shenhua had failed to stump up the US$7 million transfer fee to his former team, Racing Club of Argentina.
Shenhua's billionaire chairman Zhu Jun is threatening to withhold the salaries of its foreign players unless other shareholders grant him majority control of the club.
That may not be good news to Shenhua's star players Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, according to a report in Titan Sports.
"If Zhu Jun cannot get the majority stake, he can only pay for foreign players based on his own stake," an unnamed club executive told the sports daily.
"Drogba, Anelka and (Colombian midfielder Giovanni) Moreno's salary cannot be guaranteed in future, and they may not be able to attend future matches," the paper quoted the official as saying.
Shenhua is bankrolled by Zhu, an online gaming tycoon, and the signings of the ex-Chelsea players - for reported salaries in excess of US$300,000 a week - made headlines around the world.
A showdown could come as early as Shenhua's next game at home to Liaoning Whowin in just over two weeks.
"Whether Drogba can play on September 15 remains a question, and we don't have the answer now," the official said.
According to Titan, Zhu wrote to Shenhua's big stakeholders, who are all state-owned companies, asking them to make good on an agreement to hand over majority control due to his heavy investment in the club. The newspaper said he had not received any replies.
The executive added: "The key is whether Drogba can play on September 15, not other matters. Speculation that Shenhua may apply for bankruptcy if Zhu Jun cannot get the stake is nonsense."
Drogba and Anelka both scored in Shenhua's last match, a 3-3 draw with Shandong Luneng. But Chinese media said Moreno missed the game because Shenhua had failed to stump up the US$7 million transfer fee to his former team, Racing Club of Argentina.
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