Reporter Deng Weijin reports On December 5, 2024, in the final match of the group stage of the "AFC Champions League 2", the Hong Kong Super League team Oriental Sports Club lost 1-4 away to the Japanese professional league powerhouse Sanfrecce Hiroshima, but the 18-year-old Hong Kong, China's local teenager Wu Yuxi became famous with this battle.

Only 10 minutes into the opening game, Wu Yuxi faked in the backfield to shake the opponent to complete the ball, quickly completed the edge from the side, and quickly advanced after winning the ball again, and shot with his left foot after deducting two defenders. This wonderful goal, which combined team cooperation and individual ability, broke the embarrassing record of 0 goals scored by a Hong Kong team in Japan in the past 22 years. This goal not only won him the praise of Hong Kong fans, but also made many mainland fans know him, and he even received olive branches from many Chinese Super League and Chinese League A teams.

In fact, for Wu Yuxi, the 18-year-old is unusual but more than that: he was selected for the first time in the Hong Kong, China squad in April 2024, he made his first-team debut for Hong Kong, China in September, and on January 19, 2025, Chongqing Tonglianglong officially announced his joining - which means that Wu Yuxi, who has just been given a stable opportunity to play in the East, will start a new adventure.

This Thursday, Wu Yuxi is about to celebrate his 19th birthday. The 2025 season of the Chinese League will be a new starting point for his professional journey. During the winter training in January, Wu Yuxi, who had just met with Chongqing Tongliang Dragons, was interviewed by this newspaper in Haikou, when talking about why he chose to say goodbye to his 18-year-old by jumping out of his comfort zone, Wu Yuxi admitted that leaving the Hong Kong Super League at this time exceeded his expectations, but he also showed us the vigor and vitality that a young man should have, "Since the opportunity is in front of you, why not challenge?" ”

◆Football: Many mainland fans know you from your goal against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, so let's introduce yourself briefly.

Wu Yuxi: Hello fans and friends, I am Wu Yuxi, I am 18 years old this year, I usually play the role of winger in the team, I think my technical characteristics are dribbling and one-on-one passing, which is also my strength. Just like the goal against Hiroshima, it showed my best side very well, and I watch the video from time to time.

◆When did you start playing football?

I first got into football because of my dad, who loves to play football too. Growing up, he would take me with him every time he went to play or go to see a football, and sometimes he would play on the pitch and I would play with the ball off the pitch, and gradually I also liked football. When I was six years old, he sent me to Chelsea Football Academy in Hong Kong and that's when I really got professional training. When I was about 12 years old, I moved to the South China Athletic Club, a local team in Hong Kong, with my friends who met there, and played football while going to school. But at that time, football was just an interest, and I didn't think about playing professionally in the future.

◆How did you get on the path of professional football?

Around 2020, I moved to the echelon of the Oriental Athletic Association with my friends, where I made the decision to play professional football. After a year of training with the Eastern Youth Team, I wanted to broaden my horizons and my family sent me to England to play. After a year in the UK, I returned to the East, where I officially started my professional football career. I was very impressed with my first-team debut, against Sham Shui Po in '23/24 when a lot of the club's key players were called up to Hong Kong, and suddenly I got the chance to play in the first team and I started my debut. I wasn't nervous, I was excited.

◆Tell us about that experience in the UK?

The place where I play football in the UK is called Brooke House College Football Academy, and the kids who go there are basically aiming to play professional football, so they have more time to get professional football training in addition to their studies. I also had the opportunity to play against youth teams in the Premier League and played against Bellingham's younger brother (Jobe Bellingham) during my time in England, which allowed me to see a higher level of football and continue my studies.

◆You're only 18 years old now, and you've just made a steady splash in the East, why did you decide to step out of your comfort zone at this time?

In fact, at the beginning, I did not take the initiative to propose to the agent team or contact teams outside the Hong Kong Super League, and I did not have such a plan. It was purely because I suddenly received invitations from many teams, including teams in the Chinese Super League and the Chinese League, after I scored against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, that I started to think about it. Some people may think that this age is too early, because Hong Kong players generally choose to play outside the Hong Kong Super League when they are in their twenties. It's definitely a challenge for a young player like me to play in the mainland league, but since the opportunity is in front of me, why not challenge it?

◆Nowadays, there are many players from Hong Kong, China in the Chinese Super League and the Chinese League, have you communicated with them after deciding to transfer?

Because my agent told me not to disclose the transfer news in advance, I didn't communicate with other players. But I asked my head coach at Sporting Oriental, Rubido, and at first I didn't think I was ready to stay at Orient for the rest of the season. But when I told Rubido about his idea, he told me with great certainty: "If you have the opportunity to go out and want to, go for it, and we're all very supportive of your decision." 'He didn't keep me because he was worried about the loss of personnel in the team and I'm very grateful for the support of the coaching staff.

◆There have been rumours on the Internet that Leicester City sent scouts to check on you?

I've heard about it, but like you, I've only seen it online. I just look at the rumors on the Internet, and I don't know if it's true or not, so this matter has little impact on me.

◆Football: From the moment I met you, I felt that you were a more introverted person, are you such a character? It seems like a big contrast to the style you have on the pitch.

Wu Yuxi: Yes, there are many people who think that I am a completely different person on and off the court, and I think so myself. Usually I am a relatively quiet person, I don't talk much, and I am not very good at expressing myself. I was filming a variety show in Hong Kong not long ago, and I was very nervous to participate in this kind of filming for the first time, there were a lot of staff behind the scenes watching me talking, and the camera was facing me, even though there were a few big brothers around me to record the show together, but I still felt very nervous.

But once I get on the pitch my confidence comes up and I like to push through and show myself. And I'm a big heart player on the pitch, maybe some players will be nervous when playing in front of the fans, but the more fans I have, the more excited I am, the better my performance will be, and I love playing in front of a lot of fans.

◆In the variety show you participated in, there was a link where each player recommended a Hong Kong attraction, and the other players were recommended famous attractions or check-in spots, I remember you recommended Cheung Chau, but the reason is the food there, are you a "foodie" yourself?

Yes, I usually like to eat, and I also know that Chongqing's hot pot is famous.

◆But Chongqing hot pot is very spicy, can you accept it?

I can't eat spicy, can I get them to make hot pot that isn't spicy?

◆What do you like to relax? Are there any plans to visit Chongqing during training and competitions?

I like to sleep because I'm tired from training and competing, so I don't go out much. I've seen a lot of videos of Chongqing on the Internet, and I'm looking forward to coming to the city in the future, but I don't have any plans to visit Chongqing yet, and now I want to concentrate on playing the ball well.

◆So introverted you, where does the confidence on the court come from? What is it that shapes your current style of play?

I think it's a habit I've developed since I was a kid, and I've always loved playing one-on-one and I've enjoyed the thrill of being on the pitch.

◆Ever wondered if this style of play could be a double-edged sword? Have you ever hit a wall because of the way you play football?

Yes, once I was doing fancy moves on the pitch and was severely criticized by the head coach Rubido. Another time in a match shortly after my debut, I came on the pitch and got a crotch cut at a veteran foreign player and he got a tackle.

◆Football: The coaches who have taken you before, whether it's Rubid, Anderson or Westwood, are all attacking coaches who seem to fit your profile.

Wu Yuxi: Yes, that's definitely a good thing for me, and I'm suitable for a more direct style of play. I like to play on the counter-attack, I can use my speed and individual ability to play on the flanks and not have to do much work to keep the ball. Sometimes the coach will put me close to the middle, but I personally prefer to play on the wing, and if I have to carry the ball with my back in the middle, that's not what I'm good at.

◆What are your impressions of El Salvador's attacking style of play?

Because of my health, I've only had one training session since I came to the team, so I don't have a deep understanding of tactics. The manager of El Salvador gave me the impression that he is serious, that he takes everything very seriously and that he asks the players to be as serious as he is. He usually instills his tactical philosophy in meetings, Chongqing Tonglianglong is used to the three-centre-back system, I used to play in the back four, the use of the three-centre-back for the wingers is not only to attack, but a role similar to that of a wingback, so my defensive task will be heavier than before.

◆You mentioned that you have received invitations from many teams before, why did you choose Chongqing Tonglianglong?

First of all, because Chongqing is a big city that I often hear about, I have watched a lot of videos about Chongqing, and I am looking forward to actually going there in the future, because I came to Haikou directly from Hong Kong, and I haven't had a chance to go to Chongqing yet. Another reason is that Chongqing Tonglianglong pays more attention to the use of young players, and I have also seen the video of Chongqing's game, which is a very young and energetic team, which is very similar to the Oriental Sports Club where I was before. And most of my teammates are in their teens or early twenties, and in terms of daily communication, we are all the same age and have more topics in common, which allows me to integrate better into the team.

◆Are you worried about your life alone in Chongqing?

Actually, I wasn't worried about that because I've tried to play in England before. Since I was a child, I have a lot of experience in going out to compete or train intensively, so I won't worry about being uncomfortable in Chongqing.

◆I have been speaking Cantonese since I was a child, but do you now find it difficult to communicate with the team and understand tactics on a daily basis?

There will indeed be a little communication barrier, because my Mandarin is not very good, although I can understand it, I can only speak seventy or eighty percent, and I need to speak it very slowly. In addition, sometimes they do not speak Chinese, but the dialect of Chongqing, so I may not understand what they are saying.

◆The head coach of El Salvador speaks Spanish, so is it more difficult for you to understand it after the translation?

Yes, but I believe that language is not a particularly big communication barrier on the pitch. Because sometimes some body language or a simple sentence or two is enough to make the other person understand what they want to express.

◆As you said, Chongqing Tonglianglong has a lot of good young players, are you ready to compete for the starter?

I think there's going to be competition everywhere, but that's what drives me to improve. My decision to play in Chongqing means that I think I have what it takes to compete for the starting position.

◆Football: In your impression, and through the actual understanding of winter training, what do you think are the differences between the mainland league and the Hong Kong Super League?

Wu Yuxi:I think the biggest difference is the home-and-away system, although there are also home and away games in the Hong Kong Super League, but in the mainland we need to play away games in another city, and at the same time we have to deal with some long-distance travel and weather changes, so I feel that I need to be physically prepared to prevent injuries. But I believe I can adapt to it, after all, not long ago, the Hong Kong team had to go out to play frequently, and I have been to Liechtenstein and Fiji and other faraway places, but in the future, long-distance travel may become the norm.

If you compare it with Oriental Sports, I think the level of local players in each team in the mainland league is relatively average, especially the young players. In the Hong Kong Super League, there are only one or two young players with a good level in each team, but in the mainland, I feel that the level of young players in each team is relatively close.

◆The new season is about to start, what are your expectations for your debut season in the Chinese League?

I want to experience a higher level of football in the Chinese League, which is why I came to play in the Chinese League from the Hong Kong Super League, hoping to improve faster. I have also seen how high the level of foreign aid is in the Hong Kong Super League, compared to the Hong Kong Super League, the foreign aid ability of the Chinese League will be stronger, I am looking forward to communicating with them, if I can learn some skills from them, it is also a great thing for me.

I've set goals for myself, first of all I want to compete for a place in the main team, and statistically I want to be in double digits for goals and assists, which is my minimum goal. Finally, I hope to help the team achieve a good result at the end of the season.

◆How to describe how to say that you have already played for Hong Kong's first team at the age of 18 is a long-term goal for many young people.

I would describe it as a great gift. There's going to be pressure because the fans expect a lot from me and every time I play they want me to do something special, but that pressure is a positive for me and it pushes me to get better.

◆This is your first year for Hong Kong, China, what higher goals will you set for yourself in the future?

Hong Kong, China is about to compete in the East Asian Cup, and I hope that I can be selected for the squad and continue to play for Hong Kong, China. In recent years, Hong Kong's performance has also improved, from the Asian Games to the Asian Cup, which has given a lot of encouragement to the young players and made us even more eager to fight for this team, and I hope to represent Hong Kong again in the Asian Cup finals in the future.