Wu Left To Rights
Dan Alstani okayed the S$3.5 million purchase of former Singapore U-20 left winger
Wu Ping De today, allowing his return from Turkish IV.30 club ALTAY SK two days after his 29th birthday. Wu had been recognized as one of ALTAY's best performers in their promotion from Division Five, but wage negotiations with Chilean boss Enrique Salazar went nowhere fast, leading to his being transfer-listed together with Italian centreback Salvatore Palma - who would move to Puerto Rican II.4 outfit Academia Quintana for a round million bucks.
A classic touchline-hugging wingman, Wu had been a hit in Honduras with Deportivo Corso before this, as he bagged five hat-tricks while lifting the III.12 title with them. Before that, he made his debut for the Young Lions while in Italy with Mairania FC, who bought him for some S$9.2 million from now-defunct Hattrick Anniversary League side Singapore Terme. Wu still regards Terme as where he really found his footing, after transferring from former S-League club Pearl Divers on a free.
Wu's national U-20 career had its highs and lows, beginning with a 0-4 drubbing by Luxembourg in a U21 Nations Cup curtain-closer. A fine finish against Palestine in a 4-2 U21 Asia and Oceania Cup victory would be his only goal at this level, preceding defeats to Brunei and Vietnam, and a 1-1 draw against Uzbekistan at Bot Team FC's Kandang Harimau. He would then play two wildcard qualifiers at the U21 World Cup, only to lose both by the single goal, against Cambodia.
Football pundits have expressed their reservations at Wu's supposed relative lack of development overseas, but for Alstani, his new Number Fourteen was a great fit for the squad. "We had been hobbled by a lack of attacking threat out wide in our recent defeats, which is what Ping De is strongest at." the Romanian head coach explained. "I want somebody who can stretch opposition teams and keep their wingbacks honest, and he checks all the boxes."
