Hulk time ‘over’ at Shanghai SIPG as Porto, Palmeiras and another Chinese Super League side wait in the wings

Reports from China suggest that Shanghai SIPG striker Hulk may have played his last game for the Chinese Super League side after falling out with coach Vitor Pereira and refusing to leave his hotel room outside meals. Hulk, a club and Asian record signing when he joined for US$60 million in 2016, exchanged words with the Portuguese coach when he was substituted in their 1-0 AFC Champions League loss to with Yokohama F Marinos last week. It has been reported that he said, “it’s over” to Pereira as he waved him away. He refused to shake the coach’s hand and went straight down the tunnel. The 34-year-old, who had scored the winner against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the previous game, did not play when the Chinese and Japanese sides met again on Saturday night. According to Chinese media sources, Hulk only show up during meals in Shanghai SIPG's hotel. After the fallout with Vitor Pereira, Hulk has been absent from all training sessions and meetings. The contract of the 34-year-old winger with Shanghai SIPG will expire after the season. pic.twitter.com/3yrfRrR2nw — Titan Sports Plus (@titan_plus) November 29, 2020 The Brazilian was not even in the match day squad and reportedly stayed back at the team hotel in Doha, Qatar, where the East Asian group stage has resumed in a bubble because of the coronavirus pandemic. This was followed up with reports that the Brazilian, who will be out of contract at the end of December and already said he will leave the club, has not left his hotel room but for meals. SIPG play their next AFC Champions League game on Tuesday when they meet Australia’ Sydney FC in their penultimate group stage game. They have nine points from four games and sit level at the top of group H with the Yokohama side. Draws in their final two matches would see SIPG qualify for the knockouts. Hulk’s intention to leave at the end of his contract was confirmed to Brazilian media in the summer but it was expected that he would be a key player in SIPG’s attempt to become the champions of Asia for the first time. 82' GOAL! 2-1 Shanghai SIPG! Oscar is brought down inside the area and Hulk steps up to take the penalty and makes no mistake! Shanghai are 2-1 up against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors with only eight minutes to go! #ACL2020 #JEOvSHA pic.twitter.com/RED8H3d4YK — FOX Sports Asia (@FOXSportsAsia) November 22, 2020 He posted on Chinese social media ahead of the end of the CSL season in an apparent farewell message. “I want to express all my pride, affection, gratitude and respect for Chinese soccer,” the 34-year-old wrote on Weibo ahead of the second leg of the third-place play-off, his 100th appearance in the league. “I arrived in China in 2016 and since then I have always been very well treated and respected by all.” Without Hulk, Shanghai SIPG beat Yokohama F Marinos 2:1. According to multiple sources in China, Hulk's relationship with Vitor Pereira(possibly with the club) seems to be unrepairable. The Brazilian winger stayed in hotel during the match. Probably more updates to come tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/4WZjAqBZ5i — Titan Sports Plus (@titan_plus) November 28, 2020 “Thank you to everyone at the club, to the fans who have always had affection and respect for me. And especially to the players, who have always had a very great union, relationship of affection, friendship and much respect.” It appears to be the end of the line at SIPG for the former Porto and Zenit St Petersburg striker but he has not ruled out staying in China. Speaking to Brazilian newspaper Lance in July, Hulk said there was an offer on the table from a Chinese club. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Givanildo V. De Sousa- Hulk (@hulkparaiba) “I am listening to many proposals from Brazil and many places including in Europe. Turkey, Portugal, England, Spain, Italy, Germany – and I also have an offer from China. Every day more new proposals arrive. He has been linked with a return to Porto, an MLS side and Brazilian club Palmeiras. Hulk only played a handful of games in his native Brazil before moving to Japan where he played for Kawasaki Frontale, Consadole Sapporo and Tokyo Verdy. He then moved to Porto and Zenit before signing for SIPG in 2016 during the CSL transfer boom. His departure would leave only Asian transfer record- holder and SIPG teammate Oscar and Jiangsu Suning’s Alex Teixeira of the 2016 signings, marking the end of an era.