Shanghai Shenhua captain Wu Xi has made a significant decision during a recent exclusive interview, stating that he will remain fully focused on football for both this season and the next. This commitment signals that the experienced midfielder will continue his playing career into the next campaign, with Shenhua expected to offer him a contract extension.
As an aging veteran, Wu Xi has been receiving one-year renewals from Shenhua in recent seasons. The club has made it clear that as long as his physical condition remains sound and he is willing to keep playing, they will continue to extend his contract until he can no longer contribute on the pitch.
Shenhua fans are well aware that since the club was taken over by Jiushi Group, player contract renewals have been handled with strict professionalism and little sentimentality. A few years ago, legendary captain Giovanni Moreno expressed a willingness to take a pay cut and return to the club to finish his career with Shenhua, but his request was turned down. Moreno’s contributions to Shenhua were undeniable and arguably even greater than Wu Xi’s. He simply wanted to play one more season before retiring.
However, after careful consideration, Shenhua rejected the foreign star’s request. Despite not allowing Moreno to end his career at the club gracefully, Shenhua has given Wu Xi the green light to continue. Two main reasons explain this. First, Wu Xi’s form remains excellent. Whenever Shenhua faces a stalemate in a match, he steps up to turn the tide. He is an all-around midfielder—capable of delivering dangerous crosses and scoring crucial goals—and has earned the trust of multiple head coaches.
Wu Xi still ranks comfortably among the top five defensive midfielders in the Chinese Super League. From this perspective, Shenhua’s decision to extend his contract is fully justified, as the club adheres strictly to a merit-based policy focused on current performance.
Second, Wu Xi is known for his professionalism and serves as a mentor to younger players. His role at Shenhua extends beyond tactics; he is irreplaceable in the spiritual and leadership aspects of the team. Many young players look up to him and regard him as a role model.
Even the typically reserved Shenhua head coach Leonid Slutsky has frequently praised Wu Xi. As a result, Wu Xi enjoys a special status at the club: as long as he wants to keep playing, the club will unconditionally support him.
Wu Xi hopes to help Shenhua win the long-awaited Chinese Super League title before he retires. This season, Shenhua started the league with a ten-point deduction, and Chengdu Rongcheng has built a commanding lead at the top of the table. Given these circumstances, Shenhua’s chances of claiming the title this season are slim. Wu Xi has thus set his sights on next season’s championship, where he will continue to represent Shenhua and strive to fulfill the club’s dream.
