Former Argentina national team coach to join Shanghai Shenhua
Former Argentina coach Sergio Batista is set to sign a contract with Chinese football giants Shanghai Shenhua, Reuters reported today. Shanghai Shenhua is still without a permanent coach after they fired Jean Tigana.
Batista when he was still leading Argentina - Getty Images
If successful in this deal, Shanghai Shenhua will have an answer for rival Guangzhou Evergrande - the team that recently appointed 2006 world champion coach, Marcello Lippi.
“The contract has not been signed as of now. The two sides (Batista and Shanghai Shenhua) are still in the process of negotiation,”Shanghai Shenhua spokesman Ma Yue told Reuters by phone.
Batista led Argentina to win the 2008 Olympic gold medal before replacing Diego Maradona as head coach of the national team in November 2010. However, after only 1 year leading the Argentina team, Batista was fired due to the Albiceleste's poor performance at the 2011 Copa America.
Meanwhile, Shanghai Shenhua sacked Tigana in April after a poor start to the season and appointed Jean-Florent Ibenge as interim coach. To support the coaching staff, Shanghai Shenhua let their star striker Nicolas Anelka take on additional coaching duties.
In the near future, Shanghai Shenhua may welcome another "blockbuster" contract when they are willing to pay a salary of 250,000 pounds per week to recruit Didier Drogba - who will leave Chelsea this summer.
According to Thethaovanhoa.vn - DT
