CHINA TOPIX

12/22/2024 09:19:52 pm

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Football News: Argentine Midfielder Dario Conca Extends Contract With Shanghai SIPG

dario conca

(Photo : gettyimages.com) Conca was a former Guangzhou Evergrande player who joined SIPG last year.

Argentine professional football player Dario Conca has reportedly extended his contract with the Chinese Super League (CSL) side Shanghai SIPG on Sunday, and will continue his playing career in China for two more years.

The team's general manager Sui Guoyang described the 2013 Chinese Football Association Footballer of the Year as the "most important player for the SIPG."  The 61-year-old executive also labeled the footballer as the "soul of the team".

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"Conca played a crucial role in last year's competitions, as well as in this year's league, cup and AFC Champions League matches," said Sui. "He is the soul of the team who leads his teammates on the pitch."

Conca,33, is a former Guangzhou Evergrande player who joined SIPG last year. The midfielder has netted 15 goals in 49 appearances.

"I'm very honored to extend the contract with the club," the two-time Brazil Championships Serie A best player said. "For a player, it is important to join a good team in the best years of his career and play in high-level competitions. I hope I can help them win a championship in the next two years."

Conca made headlines after he left the Brazilian professional football club Fluminense in 2011 and shifted his football career to China by signing with the CSL powerhouse Guangzhou Evergrande. He was made the third-highest paid player in the world during that time, earning in the bracket of Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona's Lionel Messi.

The Argentine national played for over two years for the Southern China Tigers before returning to Fluminense in January 2014. After a year, Conca decided to move back to China and joined Shanghai SIPG.

SIPG, which under the watch of Sven-Goran Eriksson, is currently on the third spot in the 16-team Chinese Super League. They share the spot with the Hebei China Fortune who have an identical record of 6 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses.

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