Wolves target Wu Lei scores on Covid-19 comeback for Espanyol

China forward nets Espanyol’s second in 2-0 win over Alaves as Barcelona-based side edge closer to La Liga safety

Goal comes on return from coronavirus and amid links to English Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers

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RCD Espanyol's Wu Lei celebrates after scoring against Alaves in the Spanish La Liga’s coronavirus return. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 12:34pm, 14 Jun 2020Updated: 12:36pm, 14 Jun 2020

China national team star Wu Lei scored on football’s return to Spain as his relegation threatened Espanyol side won 2-0 against Alaves.

Wu, who was one of six Espanyol players to test positive for Covid-19 back in March, scored the side’s second early in the second half, his fourth La Liga goal of the season and eighth overall. He is reported to be the first player to score after testing positive for the virus and making a full recovery.

After being sent through by Adrian Embarba and slotting past substitute goalkeeper Roberto Jimenez. Wu was taken off soon after but received an 8 out of 10 rating from Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia.

Wu, who is the only Chinese footballer in any of Europe’s big five leagues, had another goal chalked off earlier in the game for handball. He was also involved in the incident that saw Alaves goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco being sent off after 19 minutes.

That disallowed goal led some on social media to compare Wu to Diego Maradona for his infamous “Hand of God” goal against England at the 1986 Fifa World Cup. Wu has been nicknamed China’s Maradona by some fans.

There were other comparisons including Fox Sports Australia commentator Brenton Speed who suggested that Wu might perform better in the English Premier League than Germany striker Timo Werner, another player who is linked with a move to England.

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