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| AFP |
Brazilian midfielder Alex Teixeira became China’s third record signing in just over a week on Friday when Jiangsu Suning snapped him up for 50 million euros ($56 million) — following earlier interest from English giants Liverpool.
China’s latest monster move came only three days after Guangzhou Evergrande paid 42 million euros for Atletico Madrid’s Jackson Martinez, and nine days after Jiangsu’s 28-million-euro purchase of Ramires from Chelsea.
The hat-trick of record deals pushed China’s spending in its current transfer period, which closes on February 26, to 258.9 million euros, higher than the 247.3 million euros spent by English clubs in the now-closed January transfer window, according to the transfermarkt website which tracks the sport’s commercial dealings.
Teixeira’s signing on a four-year deal from Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk also shows China now has the clout to attract players in the prime of their careers. The 26-year-old had been linked with a move to Liverpool, one of the world’s top teams.
“Everyone has always known that I want to stay in Europe and transfer to a club in the English league. But unfortunately all the offers I received from them weren’t serious and didn’t contain anything specific,” Teixeira told the Shakhtar Donetsk website.
“I now received a serious offer from China. I am of course moving there.”
China is pumping money into the beautiful game, hoping to build a national football culture to match its rising economic and military might.
Chinese businesses have invested huge sums in football since football-loving President Xi Jinping declared that hosting, qualifying for, and winning a World Cup were national goals. Last year a powerful political committee headed by Xi released a 50-point plan to achieve his aim.
Read more here: http://www.afp.com/en/news/liverpool-target-teixeira-becomes-chinas-latest-record-transfer