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ALL EYES ON CHINA
Transfer Frenzy Sparks Worldwide Interest Ahead of New CSL Season by Matt Horn
I
t seems almost incredible to say, but as the Chinese Super League prepares to kick-off the 2016 season, the full gaze of the global football family is upon it. The remarkable spending frenzy that has seen the country’s record transfer fee broken four times in the close season has ensured that other countries have been forced to take notice. A series of multimillion-pound deals ensured that China left even the English Premier League in the shade throughout the transfer window. As a result, countless football shows have been discussing the rise of the CSL, the likes of Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho have been commenting on the development, and social media has been alive with debate and speculation about what this means in both the long and short term. This is not the first time that the CSL has pricked the consciousness of the footie world. The ill-fated arrivals and departures of Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba definitely registered, but this time feels different. Both of those men fit the model of stars looking for that last bumper payday, but this time around players are in or around their prime. The fact that Brazilian stars Ramires and Alex Teixeira have come to Jiangsu Suning from Chelsea and Shakhtar Donetsk before turning 30 has raised eyebrows. The moves also prompted both to be labeled as mercenaries, putting cash before kudos when they could still be playing at the highest level in Europe. Ramires was a key player for Chelsea while Teixeira was generally expected to sign for Liverpool in the summer.
Jiangsu, formerly known as Sainty, finished ninth last season, but having also added from Manchester City striker Jo, they clearly have their eyes on the main prize. So does Hebei, which now boasts star names Lavezzi (from PSG), M’bia (Trabzonspor) and Gervinho (Roma). Another big mover this winter has been Shanghai Shenhua adding Demba Ba and Fredy Guarin, while last season’s runners-up, Shanghai SIPG, hope that taking Evergrande hero Elkeson will enable them to go one better this term. Which brings us neatly on to the two local sides. Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao (Hengda) are looking for a sixth successive title, as well as mounting a defense of their Asian Champions League crown. That triumph came with what turned out to be Elkeson’s 76th and final goal in his 111 games for the club. That could be a large hole to fill, but last season was his least productive with just 10 goals scored in 31 appearances. For a couple of days Hengda held China’s record transfer fee with the eye-catching capture of Jackson Martinez from Atletico Madrid for close to RMB300 million. Again, this was a player tipped for a move to maybe Arsenal or Chelsea, but the 29-year-old Colombian opted for Evergrande. If they have signed the player who was Portugal’s top scorer for his three seasons at Porto, this looks a great move. But if it is the man who struggled in Madrid, scoring just twice in 15 games, the chasing pack will be boosted.
China's Chance for World Cup Qualification
No matter what happens in the CSL, China’s national team must improve, and on March 29 they face a crucial final World Cup qualifier against Qatar in Xi’an. Hopes of progressing to the next stage are slim, but it will definitely be win or bust. Former coach Gao Hongbo is back for the match as well as for the previous one against the Maldives.
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For fans of the other side in the city, the big disappointment is that Guangzhou Fuli does not appear to have reached for the stars. There has been some coming and going, but the arrival of Swedish defensive midfielder Gustav Svensson and a lesser known Brazilian winger Bruninho has hardly set pulses racing. It is especially frustrating when even League One sides such as Beijing Renhe and Tianjin Quanjian have been buying big in the hope of winning promotion. Now, of course, Fuli’s signings may turn out to be inspired, and all clubs can look at the success of Leicester City in the English Premier League to know genuine ‘teams’ will often perform better than a collection of highly paid, highly rated individuals. But the general fear expressed on the Fuligans WeChat forum is that they might enjoy seeing the many new big names in the CSL throughout a season of struggle at the wrong end of the table – again! Of course, the big problem for any club bringing in superstar signings is the restriction of three foreigners in a side, plus one from an Asian country, meaning the quality of home players will continue to be crucial. That means skipper Zheng Zhi, striker Gao Lin and defender Zhang Lipeng will once again be key to success for ‘Big Phil’ Scolari’s side. The joy of any big kickoff is so much is unknown, but never has the CSL seemed so open. Evergrande will be doing everything in its power to make it six in a row, but the challenge has never been tougher. Let battle commence!
At-home Fixtures
Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao Sat Mar 12, 7.35pm vs Changchun Yatai Fri Apr 1, 7.35pm vs Guangzhou R&F
Guangzhou R&F Fri Mar 4, 7.35pm vs Hebei China Fortune