Is Chinese money killing the modern game as we know it?

Despite representing little more than a niche unknown entity among the wider global game but a few short years ago, the Chinese Super League is seemingly growing in stature and prestige with every passing season these days.

 

From recent big name acquisitions such as Oscar and Carlos Tevez, to the equally impressive likes of Ramires, Alex Teixeira, Gervinho and Hulk – Chinese money is clearly beginning to influence the modern game more than most ever expected. If financially backed teams from the Far East continue to splash the cash in the not too distant future, the European game as we know it could potentially come under threat.

 

 

Oscar’s recent move from Chelsea to Shanghai has created a fair amount of discussion of late…

 

Chinese Money is crazy. Oscar is bought at easily £60M for Shanghai SIPG.

It's just Oscar. And it's Shanghai.

— Ismael Isaac (@MrIsmaelIsaac) 24 December 2016

 

…a fair amount of discussion indeed…

 

Nothing in football is guaranteed. Yesterday I had to listen to Oscar saying he has always dreamed of playing in China with a straight face.

— Mduduzi Lebelo (@MduduziLebelo) 24 December 2016

 

The overall standard of the Chinese game simply doesn’t compare with that of Europe…

 

We're really seeing football players for what they are moving to China. What is so appealing about playing football there? Bar the obvious ?

— TK (@tkits14) 24 December 2016

 

…but as the modern game has simply been all about money for quite some time…

 

Klopp on China money: "You know clubs around Europe think the same thing about England!" #LFC

— Glenn Price (@GlennPrice94) 23 December 2016

 

…perhaps the recent rise of Chinese football shouldn’t come as all that much of a surprise…

 

Carlos Tevez is expected to earn £32m-a-year in Shanghai. Highest ever by a footballer by some miles. What are they smoking in China?

— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) 23 December 2016

 

Whilst this supposedly newfound foreign investment in the ‘Beautiful Game’ really represents nothing particularly new…

 

Will football continue to be as popular if it continues on it's current path? Too much money, ridiculous transfer fees, crackpot owners.

— Stuart Loversidge (@StuEightyTwo) 14 December 2016

 

…the once untouchable European elites may find themselves coming up against even more wealthy opposition sooner rather than later!

 

Would love Chinese money to stop ruining football

— Rhys Baker (@MousaDemBaker) 21 December 2016