CHINA TOPIX

11/02/2024 01:25:20 pm

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Football: Dario Conca Leads the Way for Brazilian Players Moving to China

Dario Conca

(Photo : gettyimages.com) In 2011, Argentine Dario Conca decided to move to China and signed with Guangzhou Evergrande.

A noticeably increasing number of players from Brazil are walking the path to riches thanks to irresistible offers from the Chinese football clubs.

Before, South American players were lured to move to Europe to play football. Now, China has opened another door for players who wish to continue their football career abroad.

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In 2011, Argentine Dario Conca decided to move to China and signed with Guangzhou Evergrande. It was not sensationalized nor did the deal attract much attention in the world of football, which is heavily dominated by the European leagues.

Conca was the 2009 and 2010 best player of Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A. His yearly salary of US$12 million (about 79 million yuan) is said to have made him the world's third highest paid player after Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona's Lionel Messi during at the time.

His transfer to China may be considered the defining moment in the rapid emergence of the Chinese Super League. It made South American football to stand up and be taken notice of the Asian country.

Many high profile Brazilian players have followed Conca's way and Chinese outfits continue to be very active in enticing South American players to move and continue their football career in China.

There are six Brazilians in the Guangzhou Evergrande squad that won the past five league titles. Among them are former national team players Paulinho, Robinho and Ricardo Goulart. Brazil's 2002 World Cup winning manager Luiz Felipe Scolari is the club's coach.

Key players from 2015 Brazilian champions Corinthians are leaving the club to move East with Jádson, Ralf and Renato Augusto having already left for China and Elias as well as Gil likely to follow.

The Chinese Super League's flourishing status as one of the world's top domestic competitions has been driven by reforms introduced by President Xi Jinping last year.

The government's effort is already bearing fruit, bringing international success to Chinese clubs as well as the country's national teams.

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