Wayne Rooney to China: Manchester United star’s world record move may have to be approved by President Xi Jinping after crackdown on big-money transfers
Embarrassment within the Communist Party on lavish sums being spent on players could reach fever pitch with United skipper
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WAYNE ROONEY'S proposed move to China, even on wages of £1million a week, is about more than money.
That is because the country's president and leader of the all-ruling Communist Party could be forced to personally intervene to allow his transfer.
Tianjin Quanjian manager Fabio Cannavaro has confirmed the club made contact with Man United about the sale of Rooney.
And the club's record goalscorer could leave the Red Devils as early as Tuesday, when the Chinese Super League transfer window closes.
But Cannavaro also made clear they prefer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nikola Kalinic to Rooney, paving the way for a possible move to another CSL side.
That could be Beijing Guoan, one of the oldest clubs in the country and one President Xi Jinping supports.
President Xi has backed moves - such as paying Carlos Tevez £635,000 a week - to turn China into a footballing powerhouse.
But the crazy amounts spent on players has made Guangzhou Evergrande announce plans to rid their team of all foreigners by 2020.
It has also caused embarrassment in the party, where Xi has been pushing anti-corruption and austerity campaigns.
And the reported last month that authorities had vowed to crack down on "irrational investment" and clubs that are "burning money" on transfers.
It is possible Rooney's transfer could make simmering discontent reach fever pitch, especially as he would become the world's highest-paid player on £52m a year.
And the report that any exit from United to the Far East "may well require a nod of approval from the Chinese president".
President Xi would also have to balance Rooney's arrival with the fast-tracking of plans to create 50,000,000 competent footballers in the country.
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Authorities want 50,000 football academies by 2025, more than doubling the earlier target of 20,000 by 2020.
Chinese Football Association vice president Wang Dengfeng said: "This is a solid way to select football talent for our future reserves.
"Improving Chinese football is no longer just a dream."