Raposo to Shanghai?
- Dean Petriw
- Jan 18, 2024
- 3 min read
As you may have seen over the last couple of days, Ryan Raposo has been linked with a transfer to two Chinese Super League sides in Shanghai. To many this move is completely unexpected. When you look into the details though, it makes sense. Here is all you need to know on Ryan’s potential move across the pacific.
Ryan’s contract with Vancouver expires at the end of this year, which gives the club an incentive to let him go for a fee this window rather than letting him go on a free later this season. It is also worth noting on Ryan’s side of things, options may be limited if he does not renew his contract with Vancouver. At least locally, the only clubs that could take on a standard 24-year-old MLS player’s wage demands is another MLS club. The CPL would not have the money and teams in Europe usually sign MLS players younger than Raposo. This puts him in a tight situation, and the interest he is attracting in China is a particularly good opportunity.
Not to mention a rumoured pay raise, Raposo could earn a Chinese passport and potentially be a part of the national setup there. It is unlikely he will get a shot with Canada with the excellent quality on the left side of the pitch. A move to China would not only give him a chance to compete in international football, but the expanded World Cup format could see China compete on the world stage. Nothing is a guarantee. China is not playing to their current standards at this year’s AFC Asian Cup, where they have drawn 0-0 to both Lebanon and Tajikistan. With Qatar being their next opponent it is highly likely they will fall in the group stage. China also lost to Hong Kong in a friendly on January first. This was their first loss to Hong Kong in 39 years. China currently sits third in a world cup qualifying group that they need to emerge first or second to advance. Their opponents in the group are South Korea, Thailand, and Singapore. China is in a tough situation. Could Raposo be a difference maker in China’s eyes?
Raposo’s potential suitors in China are Shanghai Shenhua and Shanghai Port. Shenhua finished fifth in the 2023 Chinese Super League. Shenhua were challenging for the title at the start of the season but hit a poor run of form late in the season, with a notable eight game stretch where they only picked up eight points. Shenhua’s international players include former Ligue 1 player Ibrahim Amadou and Liverpool product João Carlos Teixeira. Shenhua has a long history of financial takeovers and controversial rebranding such as when the Greenland Holding Group changed the team's name to Shanghai Greenland FC. The name was eventually changed back due to backlash from supporters. The club currently plays at Shanghai Stadium. The stadium formerly hosted the 2008 Olympics and none other than the other interested party, Shanghai Port.
Shanghai Port went under the name Shanghai SIPG which when unabbreviated means “Shanghai Shanghai International Port Group” during their time at Shanghai Stadium. They currently play at Pudong Football Stadium. Their name change was due to new regulations in 2021 banning the use of company names in club names to make the league less of a corporate advertising tool. Like how “Whitecaps TELUS Communications Inc. FC” would not sound right. Port won the 2023 Chinese Super League with 63 points in 30 games. By matchweek 21 they had lost only one game. Shanghai Port are home to more recognizable names in world football such as Espanyol striker Wu Lei and former Brazil star Oscar who joined in 2017. Former players include other Brazilians in Paulinho and Hulk. Shanghai Port are in a noticeably better financial situation than Shenhua who took a bit of a hit during the Covid Pandemic.
In a league with limited international slots, dual nationals such as Raposo are diamonds in the rough. The motivation for both sides makes sense especially considering the CSL’s new salary cap rules which make major transfers we saw in 2017-2018 impossible today. Ryan is a smart signing for Chinese football regardless of if he plays for the national team and it is a smart decision for the Whitecaps to take a suitable offer with Raposo’s future Vancouver in question. This just leaves the human factor of whether he will put pen to paper if the opportunity is given to him.
