Hangzhou: Hangzhou Greentown youth coach Xu Lei insists China international Zhang Yuning has even greater potential than Wu Lei and has referred to the Netherlands-based striker as “national treasure”.
Xu helped Zhang progress through the ranks at Hangzhou after the forward joined the club when he was just 11 years old. The hot prospect was then selected for the national team at the 2012 AFC U-16 Championship in IR Iran, where he netted twice in three games.
Zhang made a scoring debut for Hangzhou in a 1-1 Chinese FA Cup tie with Wuhan Hongxing in May 2015, but his time with the senior team would be short-lived. Dutch Eredivisie side Vitesse Arnhem, where he had previously spent time on trial, signed the then 18-year-old just over a month later.
“After his first training session I saw that he had the potential to go overseas and join one of the top leagues." said Xu, who coaches a side renowned throughout China for promoting youth.
Xu Lei on Zhang Yuning: Part one
"Zhang Yuning is like a national treasure. When he was a kid he looked after his body very well and you could see he was stronger than players of the same age. On the field we were like coach and student but off it we were like friends or brothers.”
Zhang began his first season with the Dutch club in the U-19 squad before, after a settling-in period, he stepped up to the U-21 level.
The forward didn’t have to wait long to be called up for the first team, making his debut in a 3-0 victory over Heerenveen in February 2016, just a month after turning 19.
Four weeks later Zhang became the first-ever Chinese player to score in the Eredivisie when, after being brought on as an 88th-minute substitute, he headed home the winner in a 2-1 victory over Roda JC.
“After one month in the Netherlands, Zhang was playing a game for Vitesse [youth team] and he scored two goals; he was my player so I was very proud of his performance,” added Xu.
Xu Lei on Zhang Yuning: Part two
“He has all the attributes needed to become a top player: positioning, movement, skills, physical qualities and, most importantly, professionalism.”
A year after moving to Europe, Zhang was handed his debut for the China national team, returning home in style to score a brace and set up two more in a 4-2 friendly victory over Trinidad and Tobago.
The forward has since been a regular fixture in China’s FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 qualifying campaign, with head coach Marcello Lippi starting Zhang in two of his three games since taking over at the helm.
While Zhang remains a raw talent with plenty to prove, there is little doubt of the ability the big striker possesses, something that is not lost on his former coach.
“A couple of months ago a journalist wanted me to compare Zhang Yuning and Wu Lei and I said that Zhang had more potential,” said Xu.
“With the experience he will gain in the Netherlands, I think that he will maybe go to one of the top five leagues.”
Photos: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com