Dario Conca as he plays for Guangzhou Evergrande in the Chinese Super League in 2013. (Photo : Reuters)
The Chinese Super League is now fast becoming a hotspot where East meets West; or in the case of recent transfers, like South heads to East as more Brazilian players turn to China to ply their football trade.
Three of the five top trades that have occurred in the current Brazilian Serie A transfer window involved Chinese clubs. Striker Ricardo Goulart from Cruzeiro was acquired by Chinese Super League's top team, Guangzhou Evergrande, for a staggering $18.3-million deal. Meanwhile, Argentine midfield Dario Conca of Fluminense returns to China in Shanghai SIPG for a $22-million contract.
Marcos Motta, a famous sports lawyer from Brazil who also represented Neymar Jr., noted that for Brazilians, "China is the new El Dorado for football."
He added: "From the conversations I had there with club presidents, owners, president of companies and governors of the cities, they will not stop." Motta has just returned from China after completing the transaction that would see Conca's return to the Asian nation.
In 2014, around $101 million were spent by Chinese clubs to acquire top talent outside their country. The number is thrice the $28 million shelled out in 2013, revealed FIFA.
China has become a lucrative environment for Brazilian players because of the high salary clubs offer as opposed to the financially strapped squads in Brazil. Sometimes, players in the South American nation had to resort to court so they could receive the salary due them.
According to Eduardo Carlezzo, another sports lawyer based in Sao Paulo, Chinese clubs' salaries are the defining factor that makes them attractive to players.
"Maybe you can have something near to that in Qatar or other Emirates but it's been the big difference in the head of the players when they see the amount offered to them," he said.
The Chinese government has been pushing for the development of football in the country as its national squad failed in their quest to bring home a World Cup or AFC trophy, at least. As such, the import of Brazilian talents has continued to rise in the past months.
