Lets face it, Nicholas Anelka’s move to Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua is all about money. The Chinese club are officially revealed that they have signed the striker on a 2 year deal that will see him earn £200,000 every week.
For a player loaded with talent, it is sad to see him end his career in a largely unknown league. Having played for the likes of Real Madrid, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea, the 33 year old is the first of the aging Chelsea members to leave the side.
This is Shenhua’s biggest signing and although the club are yet to officially, release figures of the deal, it is expected to be in the millions of Pounds. Shanghai Shenhua have not won the league since 2003 and the expected arrival of Anelka is already the talk in and outside the club.
Shenhua captain Yu Tao could not hide his excitement of having the Chelsea man as a team mate.
“It’s impossible not to be excited by this – a warm welcome to our new team-mate!” he said on Weibo a Chinese version of Twitter. In fact, so buoyed are the club that they are looking for more players.
The club has also revealed that they are on course to sign former Fulhm and Bordeaux coach Jean Tigana. According to a club official, everything could be finalised this week.
“If he does make it here this week, then we will be able to sign the deal. As for how long the deal will be, it will probably be for one year as he said he would like it to be” the official said.
Tigana was a member of the great French side that won a European championship in 1984 and that also included living legend Michel Platini. Tigana later went on to coach Lyon, Bordeaux, Monaco, Fulham and Besiktas.
The only question is how fast Anelka will adapt to life in China. Again can one player transform the fortunes of a league that has been riddled with cases of corrutption for years? We’ll just have to wait and see.
Photo Credit © Laura_nz
