Chinese Super League And Its Impacts On Footballers

The Chinese Super League is gradually growing and the investments injected into the league by the owners of clubs have seen China compete with Major League Soccer (MLS), United Arab Emirates and India as the new destination for footballers.

On June 30, 2016 Hulk signed for Shanghai SIPG for a record fee of €55.8 million from Russian Premier League Club FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, an amount that also broke the Asian football record as the most expensive player to have been bought by an Asian club.

Several high profile footballers including Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka joined the train in 2012 but left Shanghai Shenhua due to little competition. Others have joined and the names include Robinho of Brazil, once a wunderkid tagged as a future Ballon D’or recipient. He played briefly for Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande.

Paulinho was among the Brazilian squad that played at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and 2014 FIFA World Cup both hosted by Brazil and he guided Brazil to winning the former. His transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Guangzhou Evergrande raised numerous eyebrows but showed the impact China has on football and how it has gradually enticed footballers.

Asamoah Gyan of Al Ain was also acquired by Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG when many teams were after his signature.

China’s dominance in the world is gradually taken talents into the country but away from football fans as the competition in the Chinese Super League cannot be compared to the standards set by the other leagues.

Chinese Super League and Its Effects on Some National Teams

Many national teams have been struggling mostly because some of their star players are opting for China instead of Europe.

Paulinho was once a versatile midfielder and a starter for the Selecao who broke the attacks of opposing teams and could create and score goals as well. At the 2016 Copa America Centenario, he was not called by coach Dunga because he competes in a relatively lower league.

Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan has been the light of his nation but many football fans share the opinion he could have done more for himself and his country had he opted for a team in Europe and competed in a much intense league.

The player making all the headlines is Hulk. His performance for the Selecao at the Copa America Centenario was nothing to write home about even when he competed for a team that played in the Uefa Champions League in 2015/16.

With less competition and sub-par performances not a main feature in the Chinese Super League, Hulk faces a future without an appearance for the Brazil national team. Something football fans cannot consume because Hulk is a player who once fought hard to bring the Selecao back to the pinnacle of world football.

China’s domination over the world cuts across everything. Players who ply their trade are making enormous earnings but the effects would always be their inability to take their national sides to new heights either because of pressure from agents or individual preferences because the Chinese Super League is catching up but for the time linger in the shadows.