Jingye Sports Center, Beijing - CSL Foreign Player J. Ma resumed team training on Monday morning. This is the first time since he left the national team for personal reasons that he has returned to the CSL foreign player squad.
Ma's return coincides with the CSL's start of the new season and his participation in the league will be closely watched by fans. The former China U-22 national team star has not played in the CSL since he was called up to represent China at the AFC Asian Cup in January 2019.
Ma was born in Jiangsu Province and grew up playing soccer in Shanghai. He joined the Shanghai Shenhua youth academy at age 8 and went on to play for the senior team from 2004 until 2017. During his time at the club, Ma won several domestic titles including the Chinese Super League and Chinese FA Cup.
In addition to his club career, Ma also represented China at various international tournaments. He made his debut for China in 2016 and has since earned more than 50 caps for his country. Ma is known for his technical ability and creativity on the pitch, and he has been praised for his leadership qualities as well.
Despite his success, Ma has had to deal with personal issues off the field. In March 2019, he announced his retirement from professional football after being diagnosed with cancer. However, Ma continued to train and compete despite the diagnosis, and he eventually recovered from his illness.
Now, Ma is back to the CSL foreign player squad and looking forward to another chance to prove himself on the pitch. With his experience and skill set, he should be able to make a significant impact for the CSL teams this season.