HONG KONG, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Fabio Cannavaro, the former Italian football star and manager of Guangzhou Evergrande, expressed optimism about the future of Chinese football despite recent corruption scandals that have shaken the sport.

Speaking ahead of an exhibition match between Real Madrid Legends and Barcelona Heroes at Hong Kong Stadium on Friday, Cannavaro reflected on a tumultuous period for the game he once helped elevate. "I felt very sad," he told Xinhua.

Cannavaro, who led Guangzhou to the Chinese Super League title in 2019, described his time in China as rewarding. "I was there at the right time when everything was very well. It's hard to see all the news," he said.

The 51-year-old's comments come amid a backdrop of serious investigations into high-profile figures in Chinese football. Xu Jiayin, the chairman of Guangzhou Evergrande, is currently under investigation, while former national team coach Li Tie was sentenced to 20 years in prison for bribery last week. Additionally, Du Zhaocai, a former vice president of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), received a 14-year sentence, and former CFA president Chen Xuyuan was sentenced to life in prison for corruption earlier this year.

Despite these challenges, Cannavaro remains hopeful. "I hope in the future China will come back because I know the passion of the supporters is there," he said, revealing his desire to return to coaching in China. "My experience in China was really good. The relationship with the Chinese people and players was always nice."

He added that the "amazing" bond he formed with his players is what he misses most. "I learned a lot from them. They helped me to improve and be a better coach and a better man. My experience in China was unbelievable."

When asked if he continues to follow Chinese football, Cannavaro replied, "Of course." He acknowledged the current struggles of the Chinese national team, which sits sixth in Group C of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers after six matches.

Among the players he has been following is striker Wei Shihao, whom he coached at Guangzhou. "Wei is a very good player. When he is under pressure, he can perform well," Cannavaro noted. "He needs to score more goals because he sometimes focuses on different things, but I think he is still one of the best." Enditem

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