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FBL-ASIA-CHN-BEIJING-BAKAMBU-DRC
Prolific Bakambu puts China transfer saga behind him
SHANGHAI, July 29, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Cedric Bakambu says that he made “a
good choice” leaving Spain for the riches of Chinese football — and he is
proving it by hitting 11 goals in as many games.
The French-born Congolese striker joined Chinese Super League (CSL) side
Beijing Guoan from Villarreal earlier this year in a protracted move shrouded
in mystery.
The cost of the transfer was never disclosed, but reports in Spain and
France said that 40 million euros was paid to release Bakambu from his
Villarreal contract, allowing him to move on a free transfer.
The Chinese Football Association (CFA) consequently announced in February
that clubs who evade their 100 percent levy on incoming foreign players face
crippling point deductions.
The 27-year-old, who by some estimations became the most expensive African
footballer ever with the move to the Chinese capital, has been an instant hit
and played a major part in helping Roger Schmidt’s side top the CSL with half
the season gone.
Speaking on the eve of Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Shanghai Shenhua — Bakambu
was again on the scoresheet — the forward said: “I think I made a good
choice to come here.
“It is a new experience and I enjoy a lot my new life here in China.”
Speaking to AFP after the game, the former France under-20 international said
he did not care what people thought about him moving to China from La Liga at
the pinnacle of his career.
He is thought to earn about 18 million euros a year and previously
admitted the cash was a major incentive.
“I know why I am here and it does not matter what others think,” he said
in his first substantive comments to international media since arriving in
China.
“I do what I want to do and the most important thing in life is that I am
happy, the rest does not matter.”
Unlike some other foreign players who move to China, Bakambu brought his
family with him.
“I like my life here in China and Beijing because I have good friends in
my team, I am with my family, I am scoring goals and we are winning a lot of
games,” said Bakambu, reportedly on the radar of English Premier League clubs
before choosing China.
– ‘That’s quality’ –
Bakambu is among a cast of overseas players lured to the Asian country on
handsome contracts that most clubs in Europe cannot match.
But his transfer was more unusual than most, dragging on for weeks as
Guoan refused to say that he had signed even though he was pictured training
with them.
German coach Schmidt, who took over at Guoan a year ago following his
sacking by Bayer Leverkusen, was fulsome in his praise of Bakambu.
“He’s a very, very good striker and he does not need many opportunities to
score,” said the 51-year-old, whose side have lost just once in 14 games this
season.
Bakambu on Saturday put Guoan in front with a predatory close-range
finish, but the visitors conceded an injury-time equaliser.
“It was very hard to get great chances to score but at the right moment he
was there and that’s not a coincidence — that’s quality,” said Schmidt.
“He has done that very often this season, so he was a very good transfer
for our club.”
BSS/AFP/MSY/0825 hrs