GAO LATE (Ricardo Goulart) left China for Brazil on Friday, after terminating his contract with Chinese Super League (CSL) club Guangzhou FC.

Gao and his family departed Guangzhou airport on a chartered flight Friday afternoon, witnessed by dozens of Chinese fans. “It was the best choice to terminate the contract, both for me and the club,” Gao said.

The Guangzhou club, who won the CSL eight times and the AFC champions league twice, has been falling into financial difficulties due to its owner Evergrande group’s debt crisis.

Sources close to the club told Xinhua that players of Guangzhou have been in arrears of wages since September.

“Anyway, I want to say thank you to all my fans in China, their support and love will always accompany me in the future,” Gao said.

The 30-year old scored seven goals in 13 matches this season for Guangzhou. He spent his first stint in the Chinese club from 2015-2018, helping the team to win the CSL three times and one AFC Champions League trophy.

High expectations were placed on Gao to China’s attacking line if he could be naturalized. Gao got Chinese nationality but failed to get the approval of FIFA to play on the national team.

His departure added to China’s plight in soccer. China’s hopes of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup were dealt a blow as coach Li Tie’s side drew 1-1 with Oman on Thursday in the final round of Asian qualifiers.

Li has been surrounded by controversy for his decision to replace naturalized Luo Guofu with Wu Xinghan in the second half and only eight minutes later Oman scored an equalizing goal.

(Xinhua)