CHINESE football has sent shockwaves through the European ranks yet again as
Atletico Madrid sold Jackson Martinez to Guangzhou Evergrande for
£31.9million.
The club, nicknamed South China Tigers, are managed by 2002 World Cup-winning
manager Luiz Felipe Scolari.
And since Martinez’s move from Porto last summer, he has struggled to score
goals in La Liga.
The 29-year-old was happy to cut his losses — and fill his pockets — with
super-agent Jorge Mendes facilitating the switch for his client.
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Jiangsu Suning
Should
the Premier League brace itself for the great Chinese takeaway?
It is the biggest transfer in Asian football history — and the Colombian will
join former Tottenham midfielder Paulinho in the Chinese Super League.
Chelsea
midfielder Ramires also moved to Jiangsu Suning last month, prompting
worries in European clubs that players will not be able to resist the big
money on offer in the Far East.
The Asian transfer window shuts on February 26.
Martinez has scored a disappointing three goals in his last 23 appearances,
most of them off the bench, as demanding boss Diego Simeone continues to
push his players towards another title.
Atletico are second, three points behind an in-form Barcelona in La Liga but
Simeone has not been impressed with the frontman’s recent play, despite 28
goals for Porto last term.