Chinese football legend Nian Weisi recently celebrated his 93rd birthday, and Shanghai Port striker Wu Lei made a special trip to attend the event, offering heartfelt birthday wishes to the veteran figure in Chinese soccer. Wu Lei is essentially a “disciple’s disciple” of Nian Weisi, as his mentor Xu Genbao was one of Nian Weisi’s most accomplished students. Over the years, Wu Lei has consistently shown up to celebrate Nian Weisi’s birthday.
“On behalf of our generation of players, I wish Coach Nian a happy birthday, good health, and everlasting joy,” Wu Lei said. He expressed his hope to pass on the values and spirit taught by Nian Weisi and Xu Genbao to future generations, ensuring they are carried forward. His remarks earned widespread praise and support from fans, who also look forward to the striker regaining his top form.
Wu Lei is a highly talented forward who delivered outstanding performances for Shanghai Port during the 2024 Chinese Super League season, scoring goals consistently. Whenever the team found itself in a tight spot, Wu Lei would step up to turn the tide. His contributions made him the club’s top scorer and helped Shanghai Port secure the CSL and FA Cup double. However, the saying “opportunity favors the prepared” does not apply to Wu Lei this season, as he has struggled with lingering injuries and failed to find his best form.
His poor run of form was highlighted in the previous round against Beijing Guoan, where he came off the bench and conceded a penalty that allowed Guoan to equalize 2-2. While some fans criticized his performance, given that Wu Lei was involved in defending inside his own penalty area as an attacker, his effort should not be overly condemned.
