Dream Paris move for women’s ace Wang
China’s female soccer players continue to show the men how’s it’s done, with international midfielder Wang Shuang sealing a move to European giant Paris Saint-Germain.
The 23-year-old signed a two-year deal on Friday in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, where megastar Neymar helped PSG’s men’s squad thrash Monaco 4-0 in Saturday’s French Super Cup match, aka the Trophee des Champions.
“I feel quite proud that PSG chose me,” Wang told Xinhua after signing her contract. “I will not dwell too much on the future, but focus on my opportunities now.”
The transfer is another boost for China’s women’s game following the national team’s qualification for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France in April.
In stark contrast, China’s men were absent from this summer’s World Cup finals in Russia and are without a representative in any of Europe’s major leagues.
“We are very happy to welcome Wang Shuang into the Paris Saint-Germain family,” said Bruno Cheyrou, sporting director of PSG’s women’s team.
“She is a very talented young player, one of the best in her position. She becomes the first female Chinese player to wear a Parisian shirt. She joins our team with a lot of ambition.”
Wang began her career with Wuhan in 2012, scoring 19 goals in 80 appearances before joining South Korean side Daejeon Sports in 2013.
She returned to Wuhan in 2015 and made history at that year’s World Cup in Canada, netting the only goal of the game against the United States in New Orleans to end the Americans’ 11-year, 104match unbeaten run.
In 2016 Wang signed with Dalian Quanjian, where she won two league titles and was voted 2017’s Chinese player of the season before returning to Wuhan last January.
Wang thanked Wuhan for supporting her decision to leave for the French capital and admitted the offer was just too good to refuse.
“Why do we look to learn the tactics and skills of European teams? It’s because the world’s best players are all in the major leagues in Europe,” she said.
Looking ahead to next year’s World Cup in France, Wang added: “I can get used to Paris one year ahead of time. It will be a big help for the campaign. I am confident we can do well at the finals.”
China has traditionally been a force in women’s soccer. It claimed three straight Asian Games championships between 1990 and 1998 and was runner-up at the 1999 World Cup in the US and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Now Wang is hopeful her move to PSG will help trigger more success on the international stage.
“If Chinese female soccer players can play for the world’s top clubs, I believe that we can witness a new glorious era for the game here,” she said.
“We want to earn more honors for the country and inspire more Chinese girls to play."
In May, the Chinese Football Association decided a change was needed at the helm to boost the nation’s chances in France, with Jia Xiuquan replacing Icelander Sigurdur Ragnar Eyjolfsson as coach.
Jia, 55, brings a wealth of experience in the men’s game, having won 55 international caps and played in Serbia, Malaysia and Japan.
He has not previously worked in women’s soccer, but Wang insists that is not an issue.
“Jia has brought us a more comprehensive strategy,” she said. “He said that we are more focused than the men’s team and he is impressed by our efforts.
“He even said that we could dominate Asia again. His faith is giving us hope."