Topic: The Chinese Super League
In December of 2016, Carlos Tevez signed a gargantuan deal with the Shanghai Shenua FC. The two-year deal worth £71.6 million made Tevez the highest paid footballer in the world. Tevez is the latest signing in a growing trend of footballers leaving the major European leagues for the Chinese Super League. Jackson Martinez, Ramires, and Oscar all joined Chinese clubs this past year. Do these players just really love Chinese food? We’re not so sure. The deal Oscar signed just a week before Tevez signed was worth £52 million. These Chinese clubs are willing to offer enormous contracts with hopes of attracting a larger fan base. China’s government is eager to become a footballing superpower and these clubs are using investment in superstars as a propellant. Some players wouldn’t think twice about leaving their European clubs for the big bucks in Asia. Recently, there has been talk of Chelsea striker Diego Costa leaving the Premier League. His rumored destination? You guessed it, the Chinese Super League. According to various reports, if Costa doesn’t get offered a new contract from Chelsea you just may see him wearing a Chinese Club’s kit this summer. Will the Chinese Super League be the next major football league?
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/23/oscar-move-shanghai-worrying-chelsea-china
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/23/oscar-move-shanghai-worrying-chelsea-china
I hope not. It is nothing against the Chinese but rather the sport of fútbol and its roots. I don't think the players should abandon their European teams just so they can make more money. Teams are the heart of their cities and sometimes countries sand to see all the good players leave to make more money in China would be detrimental to the competitive nature of the sport in Europe eventually snowballing and leading to a serious decline to the popularity of the sport in Europe. If China stole all of the big leaguers for themselves I really think that a good portion of the people who watched soccer would slowly separate from watching and would eventually give up. If all the players get moved to China their current fans will lose ambition and the games will be inaccessible. For instance I have heard many stories of people going to FSB games just to watch Messi play. If he left for China that would be a huge hit to FCB. I'm sure if a couple more players start taking the bigger paycheck over the comradery and competitive nature thats deeply imbedded in European soccer the sport will start to fall apart.
ReplyDelete- Tristan Crimmins
I have to agree with you Tristan. The First thing that comes to my mind after reading this is how well is the competition? I do not know much about it so despite the money, why would they want to go play there. Although I don't think it would happen, but If all the big name players go to China, it would be devastating for European fútbol.
DeleteI agree that European football would become less interesting if more high-profile players make the transition to the Chinese Super League. Although people may not want this, I can see it happen. The problem is many of these players have hardly any allegiance to their teams because football has strayed away from its grass roots mentality. Due to globalization and commercialization, a large amount of the players in European Leagues are now from South America. The reasons these players leave their home leagues in the first place is for the money. What's to stop them from going to the Chinese Super League where they can earn more money?
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way. I don't like the idea of the Chinese Super League taking players. However, I don't think it should be allowed or okay for a European football league to let their players transfer just for a bigger paycheck. I hate that money has become the main source of motivation in sports.
Delete-Caroline
Although some people are highly motivated by money, I don't believe that enough superstar players from the European league will be switching over to the Chinese Super League. I also don't think that enough people from around the world will travel to be spectators at these games, because China is a harder destination to visit than many countries in Europe. Regardless of having a few of the most talented football players in the Chinese Super League, I don't think that any league will be more popular than the European one, at least not for many, many years. Though, I do believe that the Chinese Super League will begin to become more popular, especially if they begin working on obtaining good sponsorship deals.
ReplyDelete