Richairo Zivkovic will definitely not return to FC Groningen, the Pride of the North Thursday afternoon worldly. The striker trained with trainer Danny Buijs’ team the past few weeks, but it is no longer possible to work together. Changchun Yatai, Zivkovic’s employer, has asked the 23-year-old striker to return to China immediately.

Because of the corona crisis, the second division in China came to a standstill, which gave Zivkovic permission to maintain his condition at FC Groningen. Technical director Mark-Jan Fledderus immediately announced that a definitive return of the striker was not a foregone conclusion. A few weeks later it turned out that a second period of Zivkovic in Groningen was no longer an option. He played for the club between 2012 and 2014 and afterwards played for Ajax, KV Oostende and Sheffield United, among others. Zivkovic’s contract in China runs until December 2021.

FC Groningen is in the final phase of the transfer period working on reinforcements for the defence and according to Football International the search is successful. Miguel Ángel Leal, a 23-year-old wing defender of Villarreal, has to give Buijs an extra option in the back line. The young Spaniard will be able to go on both backpositions. After the departure of Deyovaisio Zeefuik, Amir Absalem and Django Warmerdam, the flush was rather thin. Buijs has only Damil Dankerlui and Bart van Hintum on the wings. Sunday against PSV (1-3) the only nineteen-year-old leftback Thomas Poll made his appearance as a substitute.

By the way, Leal is not a basic player at Villarreal. The multi-functional defender only came into action for the Spanish club during a duel at the Copa del Rey last season. The player coveted by FC Groningen ended the year with 25 matches in the B-team of Villarreal. In Groningen they hope to be able to present the flank player in the near future.