Former Chelsea manager, Andre Villas-Boas says Oscar’s arrival at Shanghai SIPG is game-changing for the Chinese Super League.
Speaking to DSP magazine in Qatar, as reported by the Daily Mail, the former Blues boss admitted that the growing league that is the Chinese Super League will benefit from the Brazilian’s arrival.
Villas-Boas said:
The fact that Oscar has signed for Shanghai means a lot for Chinese football. He’s a player that joins the Chinese Super League at the age of 25. It means he’s at his full potential and had options to go to big clubs.
Oscar left Chelsea in the January following a £52 million deal that will reportedly see the midfielder earn over £400,000 a week, in what is widely considered as extremely weakened league.
Have a nice day guys ???#ShanghaiSIPG #O8 pic.twitter.com/IFgGydKL9c
— Oscar (@oscar8) January 12, 2017
The former Spurs boss continued by saying:
The Chinese market normally attracts star players from the age of 27 or 28. Chinese football should be grateful that we’ve been able to attract him to Shanghai. It’s a difficult move for him because there’s a lot of pressure when such a young player comes from a big club like Chelsea directly to China.
The move caused quite the stir, with Oscar, 25, considered to be approaching his prime years. The league has often attracted older players, looking for a final payday.
The Brazilian made his debut this week for the club in a friendly and scored on his debut.
At Shanghai, he joins the likes of Hulk, Elkeson and former Chelsea defender, Ricardo Carvalho, who recently joined the club.
