Tang Shi in training with Botafogo FC. (Photo : Goal.com)
A 20-year-old Chinese football player may soon be part of European football powerhouse team Real Madrid. Botafogo player Tang Shi has recently completed his training with Real Madrid Castilla and is now awaiting feedback on his trial.
Tang had played with Real Madrid Castilla, the reserve team of the famous Spanish squad, for nine days in January under ex-French national player Zinedine Zidane. He is now waiting for a call from the former midfielder.
"I will know Real Madrid's decision soon, probably by the end of this month. If I can go to Europe and Real Madrid to play, that will be perfect," the young player said.
The player was a former forward from China's Shandong Luneng Football team.
In 2013, scouts from the Rio de Janeiro-based football club, Botafogo, were in the country for their U-19 Asian tour. The tour included a game in the "Luneng Weifang" International Youth Tournament.
The scouts saw Tang's skills and understanding of the game and were impressed. He signed up with the team in May 2014.
According to Botafogo club's youth team coach, "Tang is a player with excellent skills and energy. He is good in the midfield and sides."
He added: "He will be able to improve the overall speed of our team and he can create a lot of pressure in the backfield of the opposing team. He is really fast with the ball."
Botafogo and Real Madrid have cooperation in their youth teams' trainings. This gave Tang the opportunity to train with the Spanish reserve team from Jan. 9-17. Tang's performance in the training camp would be the basis of Zidane and the club's decision on whether to take him in.
Tang was confident of his performance during the camp. "I think I have a solid performance during the test training," he said.
Although a reserve team, Real Madrid Castilla also plays in Spain's third division football. The team is a significant training ground for the powerhouse youth academy and some players from the first division squad came from the said team.
