Yannick Carrasco's Wife Confirms Interest Amid Arsenal, Milan Rumours
Jan 13, 2019
BRUSSEL, - OCTOBER 12: Yannick Carrasco of Belgium during the UEFA Nations league match between Belgium v Switzerland at the Koning Boudewijnstadion on October 12, 2018 in Brussel (Photo by Cees van Hoogdalem/Soccrates /Getty Images)
Yannick Carrasco's wife, Noemie Happart, has confirmed there is interest in the winger from Germany, Spain, England and Italy but downplayed speculation he is closing in on a deal amid links with Arsenal and AC Milan.
The Belgium international currently plies his trade in China but has been strongly linked with a January return to Europe. Happart, a former Miss Belgium, gave a transfer update in an interview with RTBF (h/t Football Italia):
"There is a lot going on.
"He has received offers from many clubs in Germany, Spain, England and Italy, but nothing is concrete and nothing has been signed.
"Yannick likes China, but it's a very different culture and we are far away from our families and friends. We'll see what happens and how it unfolds, but it is possible we'll return to Europe."
Football Italia noted there have been links with Milan and Manchester United, but the strongest rumours have been in relation to Arsenal. HLN's Kristof Terreur reported he's been offered to the Gunners but emphasised reports of an agreement being close are false:
Fact is: he’s been offered at some English clubs, like Arsenal, but they haven’t started negotiations as yet.
The 25-year-old Carrasco moved to China in February 2018 amid odd circumstances. Dalian Yifang, his new club, is owned by the same Wanda Group that sold part of its stake in Atletico Madrid around the same time, per Reuters' Angus Berwick. The company still sponsors the club and lends its name to the current Rojiblancos stadium.
Per Marca's Mikel Sainz de Vicuna the sale of the stake and Carrasco transfer were linked. He became the second Belgium international to leave behind an unstable club situation in Europe for a Chinese adventure, with Axel Witsel making the same move in 2017.
Like Witsel, Carrasco retained his spot in the national team, and like the midfielder, he's likely hoping for a triumphant return to Europe soon. The 30-year-old joined Borussia Dortmund in the summer and has been one of the Bundesliga's best players this season.
As one might expect, Carrasco has not been challenged much in the relatively easy Chinese Super League:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZT82WmOTkw
A classic winger with bags of speed and technical ability, Arsenal fans may remember Carrasco best for his spectacular performances with AS Monaco against the Gunners in 2015.
While it's fair to question whether Carrasco would be able to adjust back to the pace of play of a top league in Europe quickly, his performances with the national team haven't regressed since he made the switch to China.
A summer move seems more logical and would give the speedster a full pre-season to readjust, but with speculation picking up quickly and Happart confirming conversations are ongoing, a January switch could well be on the cards.
Chinese FA Imposes 100% Tax on Super League Clubs Signing Foreign Players
May 25, 2017
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 26: Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Junior of Shanghai SIPG FC reacts during the AFC Champions League 2017 Group F match between Shanghai SIPG FC (CHN) and FC Seoul (KOR) at the Shanghai Stadium on 26 April 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Power Sport Images/Getty Images)
The Chinese Football Association has implemented a restriction on Chinese Super League clubs buying foreign players, making it so clubs in debt must match the transfer fee of a foreign player with a donation to a development fund.
Per ESPN FC's Michael Church, the CFA released a statement explaining the decision: "To benefit the healthy and steady development of professional football leagues and curb the irrational spending on players, those clubs which are in the red should pay the same sums of money as they are spending on buying players to the Chinese Football Development Fund."
The tax will be imposed from June 19 when the CSL's summer transfer window opens.
Sky Sports' Kaveh Solhekol reported the rule casts doubt on big-money signings from Europe this summer, though financier Alexander Jarvis doesn't believe it will have a significant impact:
@SkyKaveh Deals will still happen. CSL clubs will just inflate the sponsorship deals to get deals through.
The CFA also increased the quota of domestic players under the age of 23 that must be in the starting lineup from a minimum of one—the number must now be equal to the number of foreign players starting.
The increased quota should prevent managers getting around the rule by fielding a youngster before substituting them early on, for which Andre-Villas Boas of Shanghai SIPG and a number of other coaches have received criticism this season.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 10: Shanghai coach Andre Villas-Boas looks on during the AFC Asian Champions League Group Stage match between the Western Sydney Wanderers and Shanghai SIPG FC at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on May 10, 2017 in Sydney, Australia.
According to Forbes' Andrew Brennan, the CFA has also announced it will reduce the club quota for overseas players to four, down from five, and only three will be allowed on the pitch at the same time.
Brennan reported the outlandish transfer fees and wages spent on foreign players has "financially burdened" clubs in the CSL as it has created a "broiling expense bubble."
He added that the inflated total of such investments—to the tune of $1.15 billion—significantly outweighs "the economic value brought to the CSL through viewership, foreign investment and value."
The Guardian's Steve Price broke down just a few of the biggest transfers to involve the CSL, with Oscar, Carlos Tevez, Jackson Martinez and Ramires heading to four of China's biggest clubs for a combined total of £175 million.
That's not including Hulk, Alex Teixeira, Ezequiel Lavezzi or Axel Witsel, while Tevez alone will earn around £64 million over the course of two years with Shanghai Shenhua thanks to a weekly wage of approximately £615,000.
Ezequiel Lavezzi Apologizes for 'Insulting Chinese People' in Insensitive Photo
May 15, 2017
HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 21: Ezequiel Lavezzi #22 of Argentina reacts in the first half against the United States during a 2016 Copa America Centenario Semifinal match at NRG Stadium on June 21, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
Ezequiel Lavezzi, who plays for Hebei CFFC in the Chinese Super League, apologized for a racially insensitive photo he took with the team, per the Telegraph:
Ezequiel Lavezzi sorry for 'insulting Chinese people' with offensive photo https://t.co/KX8l7N5p62
The Argentine international explained his intention was not to mock anyone.
"We were given instructions by the official photographer and I was trying to make some interesting photos by making some funny faces, which would be used afterwards for entertainment purposes," Lavezzi said in a statement, per the Telegraph.
"I had no intention of insulting the Chinese people and did not do it with any bad intentions."
After spending the previous four years with Paris Saint-Germain, Lavezzi signed a two-year deal with the Chinese club worth about €10 million per year.
He has made seven appearances during the current Super League season, amassing three goals and six assists.
The 32-year-old also plays for the Argentina national team, which reached the finals of the 2014 World Cup.
