While some Brazilian football players have moved to Europe for more lucrative careers, some have decided to ply their trade at a farther location. It seems that more and more players from Brazil's Serie A have been moving to China to join Chinese clubs.
On Jan. 17, it was confirmed that Atletico Mineiro's top striker Diego Tardelli has signed with Shandong Luneng for a deal worth more than $5 million. Meanwhile, Cruzeira's striker Ricardo Goulart transferred to Guangzhou Evergrande for a reported $15-million deal.
Aside from the huge salaries they offer to players, Chinese clubs also take care of the players' taxes and pay them on time.
Brazilian player Aloisio said: "I am getting four times what I got at Sao Paulo." He added that "it was an offer I couldn't turn down, it was my future and the future of my family."
Many believe that the transfer was due to the huge amount of money involved. However, Atletico Mineiro's former coach said that it is more than that.
According to Cuca, ex-coach of Atletico Mineiro who now handles Shandong Luneng, the allure of China as a football haven for Brazilian players goes beyond salaries. While he admits that bigger pays are often the starting point, better infrastructure also attracts the players.
"China reminds me a lot of Japan in years gone by," said Cuca. "The Japanese market was strong and they looked to Brazil to learn (footballing) values."
The Brazilian coach added: "That is what is happening with China today. They are trying to learn from the different schools and have players from lots of different countries."
Cuca also observed that no other team in Brazil could match the facilities found in China.
He revealed that "no team in Brazil has an infrastructure like the team I am at in China."
Cuca further said: "Land is easier there, we have seven pitches, each one better than the next, there's all-weather pitches, full size, seven a-side."
Even players enjoy their "own suite," shared Cuca. "We have all the latest you can imagine in terms of physical infrastructure," he noted.
But while the Chinese Super League teams enjoy world-class facilities, personnel issues remain. Teams have been finding it hard to look for support personnel that would be part of the clubs' staff. In Shandong Luneng alone, each player is in-charge of his own uniforms.
"Every player there washes their own kit," said Cuca. He also said that even those with professional license are not qualified for their needs.
"They have good doctors there but they are inexperienced. They don't have nutrition, it's not balanced like here. Before the games they eat stuff you wouldn't believe. So it is up to the coach to help that kind of professional evolution as well," the coach said.