Report: Chinese striker Wu Lei to stay in RCD Espanyol for 1 more year
CGTN
Chinese striker Wu Lei of RCD Espanyol dribbles during the La Liga game against CA Osasuna at El Sadar Stadium in Pamplona, Spain, March 8, 2020. /VCG

Chinese striker Wu Lei of RCD Espanyol dribbles during the La Liga game against CA Osasuna at El Sadar Stadium in Pamplona, Spain, March 8, 2020. /VCG

Chinese striker Wu Lei is negotiating contract extension with La Liga's RCD Espanyol and according to AS.com, he and the club will reach a one-year deal which will allow RCD Espanyol to keep him until 2021.

AS also reported that Wu will stay with the Spanish club even if RCD Espanyol are relegated to the Segunda División. Considering that they are currently at the bottom of La Liga with 20 points (4-8-15), relegation is very likely.

Wu joined RCD Espanyol in January 2019. Having scored three goals in 16 games for the club, Wu and RCD Espanyol made the UEFA Europa League after the 2018-19 season. Though the club have been struggling in the 2019-20 season, it has more to do with their management problems. Wu increased his goals to seven for the team in all competitions.

Wu Lei of RCD Espanyol celebrates after scoring a goal in the La Liga game against Barcelona at at RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, January 4, 2020. /VCG

Wu Lei of RCD Espanyol celebrates after scoring a goal in the La Liga game against Barcelona at at RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, January 4, 2020. /VCG

On January 4, Wu started off the bench and claimed the game-tying goal for Espanyol at the 88th minute to help the team send Barcelona away with a 2-2 draw. That was his fifth goal in La Liga which made him the first Chinese player to break the net of Barcelona.

At age 28, Wu is at the peak of his career and he could have been enjoying a much better salary among easier competitions in the Chinese Super League (CSL). However, he still chose to stay in Spain only to further improve himself in a more competitive environment.

There's no need to worry even if RCD Espanyol are relegated to the Segunda División. Japanese national team members Kagawa Shinji (Real Zaragoza) and Shinji Okazaki (Huesca) are both playing in this league. If Wu can receive more minutes on the field, it might well be worth it.