Lifan boosts its brigade of Brazilians
Chongqing Lifan has announced the signing of Brazilian winger Fernandinho da Silva on a free transfer from Copa Libertadores champion Gremio.
Fernandinho had been in talks with the Chinese Super League club since Gremio ended its 2017 season with a 1-0 loss to Real Madrid in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup three weeks ago.
“It is hoped that in the new season Fernandinho can continue to maintain his level, rising to new challenges and achieving even better results,” Chongqing Lifan said on its official website.
Fernandinho will join fellow Brazilians Alan Kardec, Hyuri and Fernandinho Conceicao in Chongqing Lifan’s lineup.
The 32-year-old played 57 matches in 2017 and scored 12 goals, including a stunning long-range strike in the Copa Libertadores final against Argentina’s Lanus.
Chongqing Lifan finished 10th in this year’s Chinese Super League standings with nine wins, nine draws and 12 losses from 30 matches.
Former Portugal manager Paulo Bento replaced South Korean Chang Woe-ryong as the team’s head coach in December.
Bakambu on the move
Meanwhile, Villarreal striker Cedric Bakambu looks certain to leave the club to join the CSL’s Beijing Guo’an, Villarreal coach Javier Calleja confirmed on Wednesday.
Speaking ahead of Thursday’s King’s Cup tie away to Leganes, Calleja said the Congoloese striker, who has netted nine goals so far this season in the Spanish Liga Santander, would be moving in a deal estimated to be worth around $48 million.
“Bakambu’s transfer is being finalized and it could be completed in a matter of hours,” said Calleja, who admitted that his club could not turn down such an offer for a player it bought for $10 million just over two years ago.
“The move is in the interest of all parties, he has a buyout clause in his contract and it looks like they (Beijing) are going to pay it,” he said.
Bakambu’s two and a half years on the east coast of Spain have seen him score 48 goals in all competitions as his speed and power make him a handful for opposing defenders.