ZCZC
BSP-07
FBL-HKG-CHN-SHANDONG-FELLAINI
Injury delays Fellaini debut for China’s Shandong
HONG KONG, Feb 4, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Marouane Fellaini’s debut at Chinese
club Shandong Luneng has been delayed to allow the former Manchester United
midfielder treatment for a calf injury, his new coach said Monday.
The 31-year-old arrived in Hong Kong on Sunday to meet with teammates and
sign autographs for fans, but missed training and flew home to Belgium that
night for treatment.
Fellaini had been expected to make his first appearance with the club at
Hong Kong’s annual Lunar New Year Cup invitational on Tuesday.
“Of course we are very happy that he is joining the club,” Shandong coach
Li Xiaopeng told reporters. “But between his health and the game, we think
that his health is the more important.”
Li did not say whether the Belgium international would recover for the
start of the Chinese Super League (CSL) on March 1.
Manchester United announced Friday that Fellaini would join Shandong after
177 appearances in five-and-a-half seasons, scoring 22 goals.
The former Everton player, who last year signed a new and improved deal
until 2020, was a key figure at Old Trafford under previous manager Jose
Mourinho.
But he has featured only once, as a late substitute, in United’s seven
Premier League games since Mourinho was sacked and his injury ruled him out
of recent matches.
At Shandong, Fellaini joins fellow European Graziano Pelle — the 33-year-
old Italian striker who joined the club from Southampton in July 2016 for
about o13 million ($17 million).
The club finished third in the CSL last season, 10 points behind champions
Shanghai SIPG, and were runners-up in the Chinese FA Cup.
Shandong take on Auckland City in Tuesday’s Lunar Cup, while Japan’s Sagan
Tosu face off against a team drawn from the Hong Kong League in the day’s
other match.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1452 hrs