Wu Lei's letter to fans: I'd like to help Espanyol go back to La Liga
Li Chenqi

Chinese international Wu Lei's Espanyol lost to Barcelona 0-1 on Wednesday night, condemning the Catalan club to relegation to Spain's second division next season, and prompting fans across China to engage in a heated debate on what Wu's next move should be.

Answering his fans, on Friday night, Wu sent a long letter to fans on his Weibo account, expressing that he's willing to stay at RCD Espanyol and help the team go back to La Liga, while giving some suggestions to Chinese fans who talk about his future and Chinese football.

Wu Lei's letter to fans, July 10, 2020. /Wu Lei's Weibo

Wu Lei's letter to fans, July 10, 2020. /Wu Lei's Weibo

Translation of the letter

Dear "Parrots,"

At this moment, I believe you must be more disappointed and sad than us. We had a bad season. 

This season should have been a very happy and enjoyable season. We played in the Europa League and once again stood in the European arena! 

When I stood at El Prat Stadium for the first time in February last year, your enthusiasm and cry were engraved in my heart! 

We have experienced joy and disappointment together for more than a year. I am deeply touched by you, especially this season, when our performance was not ideal. But both at home and away, you are with us, always cheering behind us! 

Here I also feel a strong sense of belonging, a sense of belonging inherited from generation to generation. 

In March this year, I was unlucky to be infected with the coronavirus. During that time, I felt your great concern. I thought no matter how hard it was, as long as I stood on the field, I would do my best to bring you happiness! 

From the day I came to the team, I have felt the atmosphere of the locker room. We are a united, humble, positive, and enterprising team. 

I thank everyone for their help, and trust from coaches, teammates, and staff. The blue-and-white "Parrots" are dearly in my heart! 

Now, we need to work hard to get back to the top league, for our history, for our club, for our life! 

Just like our team song sings, white is our heart, blue is our soul! 

At last, I hope we can celebrate the next victory together at El Prat Stadium, as soon as possible! Without your support, football would be meaningless. Our hearts are together! 

Everyone, players, staff, fans, we are a Great family! 

Our goal is forever! I believe we will return to La Liga soon, come on, Spaniard! 

Of course, there are fans who care and support me day and night in my country. 

Whether you are new or old fans, whether you are fans who always follow me, or fans who started to follow me after I went abroad and have gradually regarded the Spanish Club as your favorite team, following me all the way has always been my motivation! 

In March, when I was infected with the coronavirus, I felt the infinite power you gave me. Your worries, concerns and encouragement touched me deeply, and I will bear it in my heart! 

I think there are really many places for Chinese football to improve. We need our inner satisfaction and pride too! 

But we lack some faith, and compared with the history of European football in more than 100 years, we lack of some connotation.

When you talk about where I should or shouldn't go, I think we are sometimes too confident, on the other hand, it also reflects our lack of confidence.

I think that one day, when people no longer talk about whether a Chinese player should play in the mainstream European leagues or in sub-level leagues, when there are Chinese players running at various levels in various European countries, Chinese football can be truly confident.

(Cover designed by Li chenqi, photo via CFP)

(With input from Xinhua News Agency)