Wang Dalei at Inter Milan

[macedonian]

Wang Dalei begins 10-day training spell at Inter Milan
30 Aug 2006


Chinese goalkeeper Wang Dalei has made a successful start to his ten days of training with Italian giants Inter Milan.

The seventeen-year-old Shanghai United custodian will spend the next week and a half training with Inter, and will be joined on Friday by left-winger Zhang Wenzhao, a second player selected by Chinese U-21 national team coach Jia Xiuquan to take part in this project aimed at giving young Chinese players the chance to gain experience at top European clubs.

Shenyang Ginde striker Chen Tao was on the initial list of three players, but was unable to travel due to a serious leg injury.

Wang, who flew in from Shanghai last night, trained with Roberto Mancini's first team players on Wednesday morning and showed no signs of jetlag.

Wang impressed onlookers in his first training session with Inter, saving shots from some famous names after warming up with the Serie A club's goalkeeper coach.


Wang Dalei is highly rated for his quick reflexes, speed at moving off his line and the maturity with which he commands his defence. At the 2004 U-17 World Championship Wang Dalei was the first goalkeeper to receive the tournament's Most Valuable Player award. In the same year he kept goal for China at the U-19 World Championship and had a try-out with French club Lille. After starring at the U-17 World Championship in Peru last year, Wang was the runner-up in the AFC's Youth Player of the Year award. Earlier this year he earned his first Chinese Olympic team call-up, and in August he was named in Zhu Guanghu's men's national team for a training camp.

Zhang Wenzhao plays his club football for Shenzhen Kingway. A quick and agile left-sided midfielder, Zhang is a regular in the Chinese U-21 national team and is expected to feature in the Olympic team at Beijing 2008.

Both Wang Dalei and Zhang Wenzhao played a key role in China's 3-1 victory over South Africa last January. With ten minutes of normal time remaining in the Sesol Cup final, Zhang put China in front with a precise shot from 14 yards. He then set up China's third with a pin-point cross before Wang saved a penalty in added time.