Chinese soccer's rising riches yet to bode well for the game

A HOST OF TEAMS in the Chinese Super League, the country's top soccer league, have witnessed big changes in their major shareholders as well as squads after this season. The Brazilian midfielder Oscar, a former Chelsea player, is set to join Shanghai SIPG in January on an agreed deal of around $64 million. Southern Metropolis Daily commented on Thursday:

Chinese soccer clubs hit the headlines on a regular basis because they continue to attract some of the world's top soccer players and astronomical investments. Beijing Guoan recently sold 64 percent of its shares to a local high-end property developer at about 3.55 billion yuan ($500 million), driving its market value to a record 5.55 billion yuan.

Big signings keep coming, too. After Oscar, Carlos Tevez, the Argentine international who is currently playing for Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires, will reportedly become the highest-paid player in the world after joining Shanghai Shenhua. Reports said the 32-year-old striker could sign a two-year contract on $762,000 a week.