Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Beijing: Italy international Graziano Pelle has become the latest big name to swap Europe for China after the 30-year-old left Southampton to join AFC Champions League quarter-finalists Shandong Luneng on Monday.
Pelle’s arrival in China from the English Premier League side for an as yet undisclosed transfer fee, comes just two days after Shandong announced they had secured the services of former Newcastle United forward Papiss Cisse.
The duo will be in good company whilst plying their trade in China, with the likes of Ramires, Jackson Martinez, Alex Teixeira and Hulk all having already opted to leave top-flight European teams for a career in East Asia.
After making his debut for Italian outfit Lecce in 2003, Pelle, who was his country’s top scorer with two goals at the recently concluded Euro 2016 extravaganza in France, ultimately moved to Southampton in 2014 following spells with Dutch sides AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord, as well as Serie A’s Parma and Sampdoria.
The Lecce-born striker does, however, arrive in China with his new employers and recently installed head coach Felix Magath facing domestic difficulties. Shandong are currently one place off bottom spot in the Chinese Super League standings, although they did record a potentially vital 2-1 win over Jiangsu Suning on Saturday.
On the continental front, Shandong will continue their AFC Champions League campaign with a last eight first leg encounter away against FC Seoul on August 24. They are scheduled to host the return fixture on September 14.
Photo: AFP