The last "standard king" suddenly escaped, can the future Chinese Super League still watch?

What was originally just a lull due to the international break could become the "eye of the storm" for the Chinese Super League. Just as Fellaini was anxious to announce his departure after the season, and Beijing Guoan's two midfielders scrambled to leave, another big-name foreign aid embarked on the road to "escape the Chinese Super League" - according to Romanian media reports, Romanian foreign aid Stanciu from Wuhan Three Towns has completed transfer procedures and is about to join Saudi team Damark. There is nothing surprising about the Saudi league "poaching" the Chinese Super League that is crazy waving the dollar, but as the former "champion" of the Chinese Super League, De turned around and ranked second in the price of the signature foreign aid, Stanciu's departure is even more of a blow to the Chinese Super League than Fellaini's farewell as promised...

Relevant reports in the Romanian media

Stanciu, who joined the Chinese Super League last season, spent 4 million euros in transfer fees from Wuhan Three Towns, and he rightfully became the "champion" of the Chinese Super League that season. At that time, many people lamented that the Chinese Super League was "not as good as it used to be", and a mere 4 million euros could become a "champion". But only a year later, when the three towns of Wuhan won the new "standard king" again, people found that "4 million euros" is likely to become a peak that can only be looked up to for a long time in the future. After all, the "champion" Aziz in the 2023 season only spent 900,000 euros in the loan fee of Wuhan Three Towns! It is difficult to say whether such a cost can afford the title of "standard king".

Of course, Stanciu's performance is fully worthy of his transfer fee of 4 million euros, and it can even be said to be "great value for money". In 27 appearances last season, he contributed a "double-double" of 10 goals and 12 assists, helping Wuhan Three Towns achieve the Kaiserslautern miracle of the Chinese Super League. Although his goalscoring performance has slowed down this season, he has scored only one goal so far this season, but he still leads the assists list with 12 assists. His technique, awareness, and insight on the court are clearly superior, and even Oscar, the first foreign aid who has returned, sometimes feels ashamed of himself. And his identity as the No. 10 of the Romanian team and the statement that the national team coach and the media complain from time to time that "he should not go to China to pan for gold at a young age" still make people feel the residual warmth of the "golden era of the past". However, it is precisely because it is the year of play and the core of the national team's midfield, the rumors about "Stanciu may return to Europe" have never been interrupted, but at that time, the three towns of Wuhan had the confidence to laugh, as Stanciu's agent said two days ago, "No club can meet Stanciu's salary requirements, and no one will be willing to bear this money."

However, it is still the phrase "today is not the same as in the past", and the three towns of Wuhan at this time have long lost the pride of the "second team of Evergrande", and only the same constraints as today's "second team Evergrande" remain. Although many fans in Wuhan still believe that the announcement that "investors will suspend investment from September 1" is only part of the share reform process, the operation of the club will not be greatly affected. However, facts have proved that when the share reform of the Chinese Super League club is not smooth, the "supply cut statement" will greatly reduce the confidence of the outside world, including the players, in this team, even if it does not bring any substantial impact. What's more, without the capital investment of investors, the three towns in Wuhan want to maintain normal operations, and "selling blood" is almost their only choice. Stanciu, whose contract expires at the end of 2024, is clearly the most suitable and easiest player to cash out, and the Saudi league, which only closed on September 15, is undoubtedly the best target, after all, the team has sold its own player Malcom to Saudi Arabia before, not only in exchange for a transfer fee of 4.5 million euros, but also successfully "loaned" him back during the summer transfer.

Stanciu has followed Damac's social media

It is worth noting that whether Stanciu's transfer is an initiative at the club level or a self-imposed flight of the players is still uncertain. After all, his wife and children had already returned to Europe early long before the interlude. In addition, before Stanciu signed with Damac, Wuhan Three Towns also offered him an extension contract with an annual salary of 2.5 million euros, according to Romania's Sports Bulletin, which was even higher than Damac's 2 million euros. It was only because Stanciu wanted to play closer to home and his wife and children had not yet adjusted to life in China that he chose the Saudi league. What is confusing is that the three towns in Wuhan, which have been "cut off", still have the ability to set such a price?

It is reported that DAMAC will pay a transfer fee of 2.5 million euros.

For the Saudi league that already has first-line superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Benzema, Stanciu is indeed just an ordinary foreign aid, and the Damac he joined is only a civilian team in the Saudi league, with no wins in 5 rounds in the new season, ranking third from bottom with only 3 draws and 2 losses. The team is probably best known for their coach, Stanciu's hometown, Contra, who once coached Guangzhou R&F, and the biggest player in the team is Cameroonian striker Nkudu, who played for Tottenham... Such a configuration is obviously not comparable to giants such as Jeddah United and Riyadh Crescent.

The third tier has lost its number one star, and the end of the season in Wuhan Three Towns will certainly be difficult, but for the club, survival may be the first priority.

But for the Chinese Super League, Stanciu's departure is the loss of a "pillar". You know, De turned around with a value of 5.5 million euros, he is currently ranked second in the Chinese Super League, in front of the 7.5 million euros Oscar, behind him is Oscar's teammate Vargas worth 5 million euros. The three of them are also the only remaining players in the Chinese Super League worth more than 5 million euros, and below that are 3.5 million Romulo and Cressan. Now, Stanciu is leaving, after the season, Oscar is likely to retire, and Vargas, who has been unhappy, has no reason to stay in the harbor, so the "top" of the Chinese Super League is likely to drop to the level of two or three million. What is even more helpless is that with the current operation of the Chinese Super League, there is almost no hope of rebound, and even after the end of the season, it is not only Shenzhen team and Wuhan Three Towns that have broken out of crisis that face survival problems. Cheering fans who still miss the scenery of previous years, in two years may begin to miss this summer with Stanciu, Ademi and Fellaini...