PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Cedric Bakambu - Congolese fans unhappy with striker’s move to China

DR Congo international Cedric Bakambu

Monday Mar 26, 2018. 16:00

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) football supporters are unhappy with the striker’s decision to join Chinese club Beijing Guoan.

Bakambu, 26, joined the Chinese Super League side in a big money move from Spanish outfit Villarreal last month.

The DRC international had established himself as one of the best players in the Spanish La Liga before completing a surprise transfer to China.

Dickson Yalla, a Congolese journalist, told Bleacherreport that Congolese fans thought Bakambu had destroyed his career by joining Guoan.

"The majority of Congolese people reacted very badly when Bakambu left Spain to go to China. People thought he'd destroyed his career," Yalla explained.

"There's a saying in the Lingala language: 'Biloko ya ba chinois ewumelaka te.' It means that nothing that comes from China ever lasts. People started saying that if our centre-forward has gone from Spain to China, he won't be in great form.

"In time, the fans have started to accept that he's just doing his job, but they're looking forward to the next international get-together to see how he does. There are doubts."

Bakambu has scored once in two matches for Guoan in the new 2018 Super League campaign.