Qatar 2022 World Cup: China star Wu Lei told to leave Espanyol, will cut season short to play vital Fifa qualifiers
- China’s star forward and sole overseas-based player on the national team to end Spanish season early to return for Fifa World Cup qualifiers
- This season has been tough for 29-year-old and he was an unused sub in win over Las Palmas that saw Chinese commentary team call for him to leave
Espanyol forward Wu Lei, China’s only national football team member playing overseas, has hardly featured for the Spanish side this season and Chinese commentators have demanded he leave the club.
The commentators on the Chinese-owned club’s games, which are shown given Wu’s popularity back home, called for him to leave the Barcelona-based side this summer. They also suggested that Chinese fans would stop watching Espanyol if he left.
In the short term they have got their wish, which was brought to light by Spanish sports journalist Daniel Yan on Twitter after the 4-0 win over Las Palmas on Sunday.
Wu, who was an unused substitute as the team went six points clear at the top of the Segunda Division, will leave Vicente Moreno’s side before the end of the season, which climaxes with a trip to Alcorcon on May 30.
China’s Fifa World Cup qualifiers are set to begin in late May with games against Guam on May 30, Maldives on June 3, Philippines on June 9 and group leaders Syria on June 15.