Wang Jianlin (Photo : Getty Images News)
Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin reminded Chinese fans not to expect overnight results in football after a frenzy of spending by Chinese Super League (CSL) clubs.
In raising the standards of the sport in the country, Wang said that rebuilding would have to start from the grassroots, which would unlikely produce the desired results in just three to five years.
Wang, China's richest man whose Wanda conglomerate partly owns Atletico Madrid, stressed that Chinese fans have to wait until investment in youth development pays off.
He emphasized that there have to be concrete actions in developing sports facilities, promoting youth participation and organizing games for the youth.
He added that fans have to be patient and wait for up to 10 years to see the results.
While CSL clubs like Shanghai SIPG and Shanghai Shenhua have lured world-class South American players like Oscar and Hulk, it should be pointed out that the national team has continued to struggle.
Wang described the performance of the Chinese national team as "not very satisfying."
He also pointed out that it is beyond imagination that the cost of transfer of homegrown players reaches 100 million yuan, putting them in the list of the world's top-priced footballers, while the youth's participation in football is stagnant.
Wang admitted that while football is a sport that requires a high capital input, it also matters how the money is utilized. He noted that Chinese football is on a fresh tide after the 1990s boom and has developed better now than years ago.
The founder of China's largest real estate developer, Wang has long placed his money in football in China. In 2015, Wang expressed his desire in raising China's global soccer profile and helping the country host a World Cup.
Recently, the Chinese government is prioritizing youth development and the national team.
