Foreword: Chinese Super League clubs have recruited a number of star players in the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga through huge transfer fees and salaries, although many transfers will be regarded as a joke by many fans.
At one point it seemed that all the top players were as likely to join a Chinese club as they were to move to the Premier League, La Liga or Serie A. By 2016, Chinese Super League clubs had traded stars such as Oscar and Ramirez through staggering transfer fees, while players earned dazzling salaries.
Despite the large transfer funds, the Chinese Super League is still regarded as a joke by many European countries.
The Daily Star takes stock of five players who ruined their careers by chasing China's high salaries (sic)...
- 1. Oscar
Oscar has not played for the Brazilian national team since coming to China
Halfway through Chelsea's Premier League title 2016/2017 season, Brazilian midfielder Oscar moved to SeaPort for a staggering £60 million.
Despite continuing his unique midfield creativity in China, scoring 48 goals and assisting 86 times, Oscar has faded from world football altogether, signing a £20 million a year contract and never playing for the Brazilian national team since.
- 2. Pellet
The 36-year-old is currently free
After becoming the Premier League's Southampton top scorer, Graziano Pele joined Shandong Luneng when he became the fifth-highest-paid player in world football with an annual salary of £13 million.
Unsurprisingly, he went on to score goals for his new club, scoring 51 goals in 101 league appearances.
After winning the Chinese FA Cup, Pele left Shandong after his contract expired and then spent six months in Parma. The 36-year-old, who currently has no club, made 13 appearances for the Italian national team, scoring one goal.
- 3. Alex Teixeira
Alex Teixeira turned down Liverpool's interest in joining Jiangsu Suning
Teixeira experienced a stunning start to the 2015/2016 season, scoring 22 goals in 15 Ukrainian Premier League games for Shakhtar Donetsk, which piqued the interest of teams such as Liverpool.
However, Teixeira did not move to Liverpool, but in january 2016, he traveled to Nanjing, China, to join Jiangsu Suning.
He helped the team win the Chinese Super League title in 2020, but due to growing financial problems, he did not get a new contract, joining Turkish side Besiktas in January.
- 4. Ramirez
Ramirez left Chelsea to join Jiangsu Suning
As a key member of Chelsea who has won the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup, ramirez chose to travel to China, it was somewhat shocking. After Mourinho's sacking, his playing time decreased, so the Brazilian chose to move to Jiangsu Suning.
Before returning to his hometown to play for Palmeiras, he failed to win a trophy while in China and left after only one year of playing.
"I've seen a lot of people say I came to China just for money, but that's not the case." He was justifying his actions.
'If you look at what I went through at Chelsea before I moved, you see that I was Hiddink's last option and it frustrates me very much.
- 5. Gervinho
Hot Bird has been in China for less than three years
After playing for Arsenal and Roma, Gervinho chose to join Hebei Huaxia Happiness, who has just been promoted to the Chinese Super League. He was only 28 when he moved for £15m and made just 29 appearances for the club in three seasons. But the Ivorian received a staggering £130,000 goal bonus, although he only activated it four times.
After two and a half years in China, Gervinho returned to Italy to play for Parma, but he still affirmed the level of chinese football in an interview.
"Everybody thinks I went to China to retire and get paid, they thought I was on leave for a few years. You make a lot of money, and I'm paid a lot, but only if you have to prove that you're worth it. He told the Guardian.
【Daily Star】
#Chinese Super League ##Oscar##Chelsea##英超 #