China’s star footballer Wu Lei has ended speculation about his immediate future by pledging to stay with Spanish side Espanyol. The Barcelona-based club were relegated from Spain’s top flight after finishing bottom of 20-team division but Wu has told Chinese media he will stay. “I did see many people discussing the next stop for me,” he told CGTN, the English-language arm of state broadcaster CCTV. “But actually I have made my plan clear a few times and through my weekly report,” Wu said of his weekly blog on life in Spain on the club’s Weibo. EXCLUSIVE: ⚽️Chinese striker Wu Lei confirms his stay at @RCDEspanyol next season. ⚽️"I have made the decision to stay at Espanyol and play the Liga de Segunda Division with my team." #RCDE @fororcdespanyol @Sp_Espanyol pic.twitter.com/4QtarRjHqG — CGTN Sports Scene (@CGTNSportsScene) July 27, 2020 “I have made the decision to stay at Espanyol and play the Liga de Segunda division with my team.” Wu had said he would stay but speculation linked with moves to English Premier League sides Wolves and Watford, as well as Turkish giants Besiktas. Former Manchester United striker Dong Fangzhuo had advised Wu to leave for England. Wolves, Watford or Besiktas – what next for in-demand Wu Lei? The 28-year-old was the only Chinese player in any of Europe’s top five divisions last season, a run that ends with his decision to stay. Espanyol fans welcomed the news on social media.