Money from Chinese football clubs too good to refuse: Eriksson

Shanghai, Feb 5: Former England mager Sven Goran Eriksson believes the money being offered by Chinese clubs is proving to be too good to turn down for some of the biggest mes in football.

Players such as Ramires, Jackson Martinez and Alex Teixeira have all moved to Chi from top European clubs. Eriksson, who is presently in charge of Shanghai SIPG, believes soon more players will be following the same route.

“You can’t take away the fact that money is the primary factor,” Eriksson was quoted as saying by goal.com on Friday.

“The (AFC) Champions League used to be domited by teams from Japan, South Korea and Australia, but Guangzhou Evergrande (coached by Luiz Felipe Scolari) have won it in two of the past three seasons,” he said.

“Football is on the TV all the time here, not just the Premier League or the Champions League, but all the European leagues.”

Eriksson also said the Chinese League is an emerging one and therefore it is attracting big mes. “The Chinese Super League is an emerging league, which is why they are attracting such big mes. There will be more to follow.”

“The football is improving all the time and they are very ambitious with the tiol team.”

The 68-year-old added the biggest problem that is still holding back players from taking the plunge is language which Europeans find very difficult to learn.

“In the big cities, such as Shanghai, it is easier because so many people speak English,” he concluded. IANS