Luring big-name foreigners to develop Chinese football: is it worth it?

The Chinese Super League is soon going to kick off its new season and all teams in the top football division are still trying their best to lure big names to their club in the pursuit of glory for 2016.

According to statistics released by Germany’s Transfer Market, as ofthe17thFebruary, the Super League spent a record €300m+ to signplayers and coaches in the winter transfer market. It was placed first on the list of the highest-spending leagues, ahead of the English Premier League (€253m) and Serie A(€87.05m). Indeed, in a further demonstration of China’s financial might, the country’s second-tier, League One, estimated at €62.70m, ranks fourth on the list, just behind Italy’s Serie A.

Why China?

Who would have though the likes of Jackson Martinez, Ramires, Ezequiel Lavezzi, FredyGuarin (Inter Milan), Gervinho and several other top players would head to China while still in their prime? But that has been the case.

Former Nigerian international, Bolaji Douglas, believes the lure of money, rather than football reasons, is behind this exodus of stars to China, where he believes a major football market may spring up in the future.

“I would say for now the main attraction for many stars appear to be money. The only obvious thing here is thatthe Chinese clubs are spending money to attract stars into their league. From the position of financial remunerations, the players and their agents are happy,” the former BCC Lions captain said.

“Of course the question arises: what is the motive of China? While it is a fact that football is growing rapidly in Asia and there is a market there, one can question the long term prospects of the venture. One can also question the quality of the league. But if you are thinking about your retirement fund and such a jackpot comes your way, not many players would mind.

“We’ve seen Japan and the US try this model of luring stars into their league to make it attractive and possibly competitive. In this age of media and globalisation, there might just be a huge market waiting to be tapped in Asia.”

Whether the spending spree will do any good for Chinese football?

The financeto make such transfers possible has been provided by no less than the Chinese government, with the country’s president Xi Jingping implementing a strategy which is intended to see China both host and win the World Cup in the next decade or so.

It is a bold and ambitious plan for a country which has never had a significant football culture.

Although at first sight it mayappear to be a short-term measure, the recruitment of big-name foreigners is, in fact, all part of the masterplan, carried out in the hope of attracting new fans and encouraging the ‘grassroots’ interest in the sport to grow.

It seems to be working. The average attendances at Super League games have more than doubled in the last ten years, from just 10,284 in 2005 to 22,193 last season.That puts the competition in the top ten of football’s most-watched domestic leagues.

The Chinese national team is also making great strides, losing only five of their last 37 games and in with a chance of progressing to the third and final round of qualification for the 2018 World Cup Finals.

Obviously, the size and wealth of China means that the country possesses enormous potential, and if money continues to be pumped into the game and is spent wisely, there is no reason why it won’t lead to the ascent of a new sporting superpower.

There is clearly a very long way to go before China can be considered a major footballing nation. But all the current indicators are pointing in that direction.

Source: Mail Online

Proofread by John Devlin.