When the Chinese Super League (CSL)’s transfer window officially closed on midnight February 27th, the German authority data website Transfer Market published the number of investments the 16 teams had made for the new season: with the total investments of 2.4 billion yuan (almost 334 million euros), the Chinese Super League had become the world’s most expensive football league this winter.
However, since the time schedule of CSL is different from European leagues, it might be unfair to compare them altogether. But even if you compare CSL’s winter investments with the 2015-2016 summer investments in Europe, it would still rank sixth, very close to France’s Ligue 1.
This year, five of the top six global transfers came from the CSL. Here are some ‘big names’ that many are familiar with:
Alex Teixeira, 38.4 million euros from FC Shakhtar Donetsk to Jiangsu Suning
Jackson Martinez, 31 million euros from Atlético de Madrid to Guangzhou Evergrande
Ramires, 25 million Eeuros from Chelsea to Jiangsu Suning
Gervinho, 11 million euros from Roma to Hebei China Fortune
Demba Ba, 11 million euros from Besiktas J.K. to Shanghai Greenland Shenhua
Four or five years ago, such ‘big names’ might have not had any interest in playing for Chinese football clubs. But after Guangzhou Evergrande’s great success by using the “money effect” strategy, more and more Chinese football clubs are now getting involved in the combustion of the money game. Guangzhou Evergrande, the club that made it back to the Super League in 2010, has won five CSL Championships title and two AFC Championships League in six years.
The encouragement from the Chinese government might be another factor that could explain why Chinese entrepreneurs are so eager to invest in football. According to a new policy that the Chinese government announced in October 2015, the sport industry in China will be worth 5 trillion yuan by 2025.
President Xi also has the willingness to host and even win the World Cup given that he himself is a huge football fan. Therefore, investing in football is a way for Chinese entrepreneurs to show that they are supporting the state’s goals.
The race for of obtaining broadcast rights is also intense this season. In October 2015, the broadcast rights for the CSL were sold for 1.08 billion euros, over 20 times the cost of the previous deal. Foreign companies such as French broadcaster Ma Chaine Sports also acquired the broadcasting rights for the CSL. Fans from outside China can also watch the league.
But can buying “big name” playershelp the Chinese national teams improve the abilities of its home grown players? Philippe Troussier, the well-known French football manager who has coached a number of national teams, European football clubs and who is now leading CSL side Hangzhou Greentown, spoke to Chinese media Tencent Sports, about the matter.
Troussier said, “I know the CSL very well. China has very good conditions for the development of football. More and more countries in the world are paying attention to the Chinese football market now. But I think it’s still helpless for the Chinese national team. The way to improve the Chinese national team is to let more local footballers play in the major European football leagues. They have to learn to be a football ambassador. And people also need more patience for Chinese football as well.”
Eight rounds of the Chinese Super League have been played so far. Compared to last season, the pattern has been changed a lot. The gap between strong and weak teams is not as large this season. The games are intense and attractive. With the expansion of CSL, both China and global football have much to gain.
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