Guangzhou, Barcelona bonded by shared passion

Immediately after class was over, Zhao Yinran ran toward his school's soccer pitch — ball in one hand, boots in the other. While the rest of the kids were still mingling and chatting, Zhao had already begun his dribbling and juggling drills to improve his ball control.

Next on the timetable for the sixth-grader at the Affiliated School of Jinan University for Hong Kong and Macao Students in Guangzhou was PE class, where Zhao was raring to show his skills to teacher Miguel Cantero Teran.

Teran, a Spaniard hailing from Barcelona, has been living in China for the past seven years and has witnessed Zhao's progress over the past semester.

Prior to being a PE teacher in Guangzhou, he worked as a coach at a professional soccer club in China, training the youth players.

"I moved to Guangzhou two years ago to start a new life in the city. My career transitioned from a coach to a teacher, so I've seen the passion for soccer among the younger generations in China," Teran said.

Although the school offers a variety of PE courses, Teran said the students are particularly partial to soccer lessons. "Take Zhao Yinran for instance. He plays soccer whenever he has time — rain or shine. We often chat about La Liga, Spain's top-tier competition. He knows many of the Spanish players."

"My favorite Spanish player is David Silva," said Zhao of the veteran Real Sociedad playmaker who formerly starred for Manchester City and Spain. "He is a skilled passer with great leadership. I dream of becoming a professional athlete like him."

Soccer connects not only the Spanish teacher and his Chinese students, but also cities at opposite ends of Eurasia. Sharing soccer as a city emblem, Guangzhou and Barcelona became international friendship cities in 2003.

In September 2017, a promotional film about Guangzhou was released in Barcelona and played on the giant screen at the stadium of local soccer team Espanyol. The club also paid homage to Guangzhou during the ensuing Spring Festival and Chinese New Year festivities, when cultural elements from the city adorned the RCDE Stadium.

Some 10,000 kilometers away in Barcelona, Guangzhou native Tan Kaiyuan is living Zhao's dream.

Back in 2014, at the age of 13, Tan moved to Spain for soccer training. During his three-year stay in Madrid, he learned Spanish, adapted to local life, and became well-versed in Spanish soccer techniques and tactics.

An attacking midfielder, Tan made his Chinese Super League debut in 2020 with Guangzhou FC.Earlier this year, Espanyol signed Tan until the end of the 2023/24 season for the club's B team, with the option of a one-year extension.

Tan now plays for the team in the fourth tier of the Spanish league system, which is providing him with an opportunity to learn and advance.

"Playing in a lower league allows me to gradually level up my fitness and adapt to matches with higher intensity," said Tan, whose is targeting more minutes and goals in Spain in the hope of one day making it all the way to La Liga.

Xinhua