Wang Jianlin, founder of the Chinese real estate development conglomerate and movie theater operator giant Dalian Wanda Group, announced on Monday that his company will return to China's soccer world by making more contributions in the future.

"Today is a memorable day for Dalian soccer. First, we laid the foundation of the Dalian soccer teenager development base today. Second, Wanda Group will sign contracts with Dalian City Government to fund soccer development of 10 primary schools. After 20 years, Wanda Group has returned to China's soccer world and focus on youth development to contribute to the development of the city's and the country's soccer career," said Wang at the foundation-laying ceremony of the development base.

The name "Dalian Wanda" has a special place in the minds of many Chinese soccer fans because it used to belong to a legendary club of the former top Chinese soccer league, Jia-A. Dalian Wanda won three straight champions of the league between 1996 and 1998, finishing 55 games undefeated.

However, after Wanda were knocked out by Liaoning in the semifinals of the CFA Cup in 1998, Wang, who was unhappy with the referee's judgment in that game, announced that his company would quit Chinese soccer. Though Shide Group took over and helped the club continue their glory, the club disappeared in the end. Dalian Yifang in today's CSL came from Dalian Aeribin, a totally different club.

However, the truth is, Wanda Group has never really stayed away from Chinese soccer. In 2011, it became a funder to the Chinese Football Association (CFA) and helped introduce José Antonio Camacho as the manager of the Chinese national team. Then the group also became funder to the CSL.

In the past eight years, Guangzhou Evergrande had been dominating the CSL until Shanghai SIPG dethroned them last season. Wang once mentioned that he's interested in having his own club compete with Evergrande. Now that Wanda Group has returned, that day should be on the way.