Brazilian midfielder Oscar
landed in Shanghai on Monday where the 25-year-old was set to smash the Asian
transfer record with a reported 60 million euros ($63 million) deal with
Shanghai SIPG.
Dozens
of supporters chanting club songs swarmed the former Chelsea player at the
city’s Pudong airport.
Oscar’s
arrival in the Chinese Super League comes ahead of that of Argentina’s former
Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez, who signed for Shanghai Shenhua in
another big-money deal last week.
Tevez’s
transfer fee was 10.5 million euros, according to the website
transfermarkt.com, which tracks dealings in the sport, though the reported
two-year contract of 38 million euros per season ($40 million) makes him the
world’s highest salaried footballer.
SIPG’s
general manager on Monday dismissed concerns raised by state media of a market
bubble in the super-rich Chinese league, arguing prices have to be higher to
attract players away from big European leagues.
“The
league is developing so of course it will go through many different stages,”
Sui Guoyang told AFP, after escorting Oscar through a media scrum.
“I
believe that from now on the Chinese Super League will become healthier and
more normal,” he added.
Some
fans put it more bluntly.
“In
the end if you do not pay the money then nobody would be willing to come over
here,” said SIPG supporter Zou Jiahuo.
Oscar
will join fellow Brazilian player Hulk who joined SIPG for a reported 55
million euros in July 2016.
The
pair will be coached by former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea manager Andre
Villas-Boas.
Comments