Chinese Super League still attracting big names

Barcelona's Andrés Iniesta is the latest footballer to be linked with the Chinese Super League, as China continues to be an attractive destination for big name players and managers from the world's best leagues.

Barcelona's Andrés Iniesta is the latest footballer to be linked with the Chinese Super League, as China continues to be an attractive destination for big name players and managers from the world's best leagues. [File Photo: jstv.com]

The likes of Carlos Tevez, Axel Witsel and Oscar are just a few of the players now playing their trade in the Chinese Super League after strong careers in Europe's top leagues.

AS has reported that Iniesta, the current Barcelona captain, has turned down offers from two Chinese Super League sides with one of these deals reportedly offering him £575,000 a week. While he may have turned the deals down, it continues a trend of players looking East to play their football, especially as their careers appear to be coming to a close.

But Iniesta is not the only big name player recently linked with a move. Manchester United and England captain, Wayne Rooney, has also been linked with a transfer to China with the BBC reporting in February that his agent was in China discussing a potential move. Rooney has fallen out of favour with both Manchester United and England and he seems to be considering a move to play more football.

These days it is not only big name players making the switch to China as some of the world's best managers have taken up positions at Super League clubs. Former Man City manager, Manuel Pellegrini, manages Hebei China Fortune while Luiz Felipe Scolari and André Villas-Boas manage Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao and Shanghai SIPG respectively.

The attractiveness of playing to China has persevered despite the law change in January that limits Super League clubs to only have three foreign players on the pitch at any one time.

Will we see the likes of Iniesta and Rooney gracing the Chinese Super League? That is yet to be seen. But the Chinese Super League transfer rumours continue to fly in, and who knows which players will be in the news next?