'Wife-like' interpreters married to the cause

Shopping, house hunting and managing media meltdowns are all in a day's work for Chinese game's trusted translators

SHANGHAI - Rafa Benitez says his Chinese-language interpreter is always by his side and former Barcelona defender Sergi Barjuan joked that his translator was like his wife, because they were together so much.

At training, matches and media conferences in China, the interpreters are always close by - but they get scant attention and are paid far less than the coaches or players they help.