Former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has spoken candidly about the difficulties he faced during his time in the Chinese Super League.
In an interview with Wontumi Radio, the 39-year-old former striker acknowledged that the move was challenging, but ultimately felt it was the right decision after consulting his family.
Gyan signed a lucrative two-year deal with Shanghai SIPG in July 2015, earning a reported weekly salary of £227,000.
However, injuries limited him to just 28 appearances and eight goals between 2015 and 2016. Despite the struggles, he believes the move was ultimately beneficial.
“It was a difficult decision for me, but I spoke to everyone around me, and we decided it was the best move for me,” Gyan stated. “Luckily, it turned out well for me, and we have managed to establish companies that are employing Ghanaians.”
Gyan’s career has been marked by numerous accolades, including being Ghana’s all-time leading goalscorer with 51 goals and Africa’s top scorer in World Cup history with six goals.
He retired in June 2023 with a remarkable 221 club goals in over 400 appearances.