Shanghai (AFP)
The future of Fabio Cannavaro in Guangzhou Evergrande (1st Chinese Division) seemed Monday highly compromised, the Italian coach was sent in "training" and replaced by the captain of the team, the local press evoking his dismissal.
The ambitious club based in Canton (south), made the announcement Sunday after a draw (2-2) against the modest Henan Jianye, a disappointing result that reduces his lead to the Super League just one point.
Fabio Cannavaro, 46, did not show up for the post-match press conference in a tense situation where his team won just one game out of nine in all competitions.
On Wednesday, Guangzhou Evergrande lost (0-3) in the semi-finals of the Asian Champions League against Urawa Reds of Japan. Disappointment for this club already winner of the event twice (2013, 2015).
In a short "special announcement", China's seven-time championship team between 2011 and 2017 said its captain, Zheng Zhi, would replace Cannavaro on Monday as the latter followed a "corporate culture training".
Guangzhou Evergrande did not provide an explanation or clarify what the status of the former Italian international, who arrived at the club in November 2017 to succeed Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, was.
A video broadcast on social networks shows Fabio Cannavaro leave the stadium Sunday, shake hands and wave goodbye.
According to several local media, the Guangzhou Evergrande leaders have already decided to separate from the winner of the 2006 World Cup.
If he is officially sacked by the club of Canton, it would be the second time, after his first passage at the head of the team in 2014-2015.
Fabio Cannavaro, former defender of Real Madrid and Juventus, had a turbulent year in 2019.
He was named coach of China in March, in addition to his club coaching position. But he had thrown in the towel in April after only two matches - humiliating defeats against Thailand and Uzbekistan.
Guangzhou Evergrande then went back to the top of the Super League, but had a slump. And the Shanghai SIPG, the reigning champions of Brazil's Hulk and Oscar, came back in second place.
© 2019 AFP