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It is believed that Chinese International, Fan Zhiyi is currently in negotiations with Cardiff City to terminate his current contract.

The 33 year-old joined the Bluebirds last November on a free transfer. His signing was highly publicised in the local and national press and it was thought that Lennie Lawrence and Sam Hammam had done very well to bring the player to a Second Division club. Leeds United boss, Terry Venables who brought Zhiyi to the English game at Crystal Palace said that Cardiff had done brilliantly to sign him.
"He just loves playing football and Cardiff will find he's an enthusiastic boy. They will all love him there and I am sure he will be one of their star players" said the former England coach.

Fan is known as the 'David Beckham of Asia' and his progress in football is followed closely by many Asian football fans. Personally, I think Hammam brought Zhiyi more as a publicity stunt than for his playing abilities.

After a quiet debut in the 2-1 LDV Vans Trophy defeat at the hands of AFC Bournemouth, Fan picked up the Man of the Match award against Bristol City on his home debut. Zhiyi went on to make 6 more appearances for the club, none of which he played particularly well in, and he was shown the red card after fighting with Kevin Rapley in City's victory against Colchester United at Layer Road. His appearance in City's FAW Premier Cup victory over TNS last Tuesday looks to be his last in a Cardiff City shirt.

Zhiyi has played over 100 times for China, and was also involved in the 2002 World Cup in Japan & Korea. He was also voted Asian player of the year in 2001. Unfortunately the move to Cardiff hasn't worked out for Fan and the club are expected to officially announce the termination of his contract in the next few days, Lawrence clearly wasn't a fan!

Zhiyi's career in British football has been full of controversy, before joining Cardiff he targeted former club, Dundee for not paying him his full wage packet.

The Bluebirds haven't had much luck with foreign players in the past few seasons. German midfielder, Jorn Schwinkendorf left Ninian Park in similar circumstances to Fan Zhiyi. The German giant, who made just 5 appearances for the Bluebirds returned to his home country just one month after City splashed out £over 100,000 on him!

Good Luck to Fan in the future.