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In recent years, the Chinese Super League (CSL) has become a top destination for footballers looking to make big money. In an attempt to compete with the old money of Europe’s top flight without becoming perceived as a retirement home like America’s Major League Soccer (MLS), teams like Shanghai Shenhua and Shandong Luneng Taishan offer huge contracts to players who are either still in or only a little past their prime, hoping that their skill and stamina can combine to form a backbone to base a team of domestic players around.
One such player is Brazilian international Oscar, who left Chelsea in a move to Shanghai SIPG midway through last season, for a wage of 52 million pounds per year. At only 25, and playing attacking midfield for one of the most popular teams in the world, the only reason a player of his caliber should relocate to China is to carve out a unique niche for himself in a market hungry for superstars.
But, not even a year into his contract, it appears Oscar wants to go home. Speaking to Premier League Brasil, the footballer said “yes, I would go back!” when asked about a possible return to the Premier League. He went on to say “I’m still young. I’m still 26 years old. Who knows in two, three years I would return to the Premier League. I would be very happy. And preferably for Chelsea, who opened the doors for me, to return.”
Oscar setting up his goal against Hebei. /Xinhua Sports
While it’s possible to read that as an innocent statement about the player’s future, his track record suggests that he’s looking forward to going back because he’s struggling at present. Not only has he only scored twice this season – once against Hebei and once against Beijing – his playmaking has been poor and his posture has suggested a mixture of laziness and frustration, the latter of which boiled over earlier this year when he was the instigator of a mass brawl between his team and Guangzhou R&F for what seemed to be no particular reason – referee Zhou Gang could only describe his actions as being “immoral behavior.” It resulted in an eight-match ban and a fine of 40,000 yuan.
But he isn’t the only famous face having a tough time in the CSL. Carlos Tevez moved to Shanghai Shenhua last December, becoming the world’s most expensive player in the process, with a salary of just under 32 million pounds per year. Having won titles and cups for Boca Juniors, Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus, as well as being a regular fixture in Player of the Year awards, a lot was expected of Tevez in the CSL.
Carlos Tevez looking bemused during a game for Shanghai Shenhua. /Xinhua Pictures
Since arriving, he has scored three goals in 13 games and has appeared to be sluggish and miserable, with coach Wu Jingui openly describing him as “overweight,” “not fit to play” and chairman Wu Xiaohui describing him as “not [meeting] our expectations.” It isn’t just the representatives of the club that are being blunt with him: The fans have been booing him and have dubbed him "The Very Homesick Boy" on Chinese social media, a nickname partly inspired by then-manager Guy Poyet revealing that Tevez barely ate anything in his first two months because he will not eat Chinese food.
In response to being told he was unfit, Tevez lashed out by saying that Chinese players “aren’t naturally skilled” and won’t be able to compete on a national level for at least 50 years – intentionally or otherwise referencing Chinese President Xi Jinping’s wish to see the country win a World Cup within that time frame – and yet, if that were true, why have he and Oscar proved to be such flops? The CSL is comparatively young and unimportant when compared to Europe and South America so the standard of play is of a lower quality, but that should mean expats should be dominating instead of struggling to find the net. That is, of course, if they are as good as they think they are.
(CGTN)
