Tim Cahill: Former Everton man has Shanghai Shenhua contract terminated

The 36-year-old was told he was surplus to requirements ahead of the new season in March

Former Everton midfielder Tim Cahill (Getty)

Former Everton midfielder Tim Cahill has agreed to terminate his contract with Shanghai Shenhua as the Chinese Super League continues its remarkable transformation.

The 36-year-old was told he was surplus to requirements just a week after prophesising that Asia would be over-swept with talent from Europe’s top clubs in the coming years.

Following talks with Shanghai manager Gregorio Manzano, former New York Red Bulls man Cahill leaves the club after making 28 appearances and scoring 11 goals.

Writing on Instagram, the Australia international said: “This is very sad especially after what I feel I have helped to build in Shanghai Shenhua on and off the park.

“Just thinking about saying goodbye to my team-mates and especially the amazing fans is heart-breaking. Regardless of whether my contract is being honoured and paid out in full, I would much rather have seen it out and finished what we started,' he wrote.

 

I'm very sorry to announce that I have reached an agreement with Shanghai Shenhua to terminate my contract after being told that I'm not part of the new coach Manzano's plans for the 2016 season having only just signed a new contract in November. This is very sad especially after what I feel I have helped to build in Shanghai Shenhua on and off the park. Just thinking about saying goodbye to my team-mates and especially the amazing fans is heartbreaking. Regardless of whether my contract is being honored and paid out in full, I would much rather have seen it out and finished what we started. I will always think about what could have been for us as a club in 2016.  I will be able to share more information in the next 48 hours once the final details have been completed. Next chapter coming very soon! I would like to thank the amazing Shenhua supporters, the Chinese staff members and all my teammates for your amazing support; you will all be remembered by my family and myself. I would also like to thank my Chinese partner SECA for their continued support in my career. 我怀着十分遗憾的心情告诉大家，上海绿地申花足球俱乐部（下称俱乐部）与我已经达成协议，终止我在去年十一月份刚刚和俱乐部签下的新合同。在此之前，俱乐部通知我已不是球队新任主教练曼萨诺在2016赛季计划中的一员。 不管是场内还是场外，我都对这支球队倾注了所有的心血，因此，当这一天到来的时候尤其令人伤感。一想到要与队友和那些令人难以置信的球迷们道别，就让我心痛不已。 无论我现在与俱乐部的合同是否被尊重、合同违约金是否会被完全支付，在我的内心深处，我更加希望自己能履行完去年11月与俱乐部新签订的合同，达成我们当时共同制定的目标，为俱乐部贡献我的所有。在我心里，一直构想着俱乐部在2016年可以取得的成就——为这个美妙的球队和伟大的城市带来奖杯。 在接下来的48小时中，我将和俱乐部商定最终细节，届时，我可以和大家分享更多。 我想借此机会，向一直以来给我无限支持且无与伦比的申花俱乐部球迷、俱乐部中的中国工作人员和我的所有队友们表示衷心的感谢。我和我的家庭会一直将你们放在心里。同时，我想对我的中国合作伙伴盛力世家表示感谢。

A photo posted by Tim Cahill (@tim_cahill) on Feb 16, 2016 at 1:16am PST

“I will always think about what could have been for us as a club in 2016. I will be able to share more information in the next 48 hours once the final details have been completed. Next chapter coming very soon!

“I would like to thank the amazing Shenhua supporters, the Chinese staff members and all my teammates for your amazing support; you will all be remembered by my family and myself.

“I would also like to thank my Chinese partner SECA for their continued support in my career.”