Witsel hails Modeste's red-hot start in China

SHANGHAI: Anthony Modeste (pix) made it four goals in four Chinese Super League games at the weekend with Belgian international team-mate Axel Witsel hailing the French striker as "a top player".
The 29-year-old predator Modeste swapped Cologne in Germany for ambitious for Tianjin Quanjian in July in a deal that could be worth €35 million (RM175 million) if he makes his two-year loan deal permanent.
Modeste, one of the leading scorers in the Bundesliga last season, joined Brazilian forward Alexandre Pato and Witsel at Tianjin, who are managed by the Italian World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro.
Modeste hit both goals in Saturday's 2-1 home win over Chongqing Lifan to leave Cannavaro's side fourth in the table and take his tally since arriving in China to four goals in as many games.
"To me, Modeste is a top player and his body and spirit are now fully ready for every game," said Witsel, the midfielder who signed for Tianjin in January for €20 million (RM100 million) from Zenit St Petersburg.
"It is lucky for me and the whole team to have a team-mate like him," Witsel was quoted as saying by local media. — AFP