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11/21/2024 11:32:12 am

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Arsene Wenger: Chinese Super League Poses a Threat to the Premier League

Arsene Wenger Warns About Chinese Super League.

(Photo : Getty Images) Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger warned that the Premier League must not underestimate the financial clout of Chinese Super League.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger warned that cash rich Chinese Super League (CSL) poses a potential threat to premier league after a high-ranking CSL club wrapped up another big signing this week. 

The Frenchmen's cautious warning comes barely days after Chelsea agreed to sell its talismanic midfielder Oscar to Shanghai SIPG. Shanghai SIPG would be reportedly splashing $490,760 per week for the midfielder, making Oscar the world's highest-paid soccer player.

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"It's (Oscar's move) a surprise to me but when I was in Japan they had many Brazilian players like Leonardo, Jorginho and Dunga. The competition was well organised," Wenger told reporters.

Arsenal's henchman claimed that Oscar's surprise decision may be propelled by a lack of playing opportunities under the new Chelsea manager Antonio Conte. The Brazilian player represented Blues only in handful of matches in the ongoing season.   

"At the moment, I think Oscar moves because he doesn't play... China gives him that opportunity and they invest a lot of money to create a big force," the manager concluded. He later claimed that if the trend of big signing continues, then "It could become a problem in future for the Premier League."      

Wenger's warning about stiff competition is validated by CSL's huge success in signing several high profile players during this past year. Graziano Pelle, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Hulk, and Jackson Martinez have all embraced the Chinese league to boost their wealth and partly to revive their fading careers.    

The clubs from Far East have also managed to attract many high profile managers including Andre Villas-Boas, Sven Goran-Eriksson, and Felipe Scolari.  

The reputation of Chinese football was cemented further this year after Chinese Football Association (CFA) signed world cup winning manager, Marcelo Lippi, as coach of the national football team.

However, many football pundits argued that the quality of Chinese football is still no match to European football and big players are rushing to China only for the lure of money.   

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