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Manchester City midfielder, Yaya Toure has criticised fellow footballers who have traded Europe for China, saying he would prefer to follow Manchester United forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s example and stay in a competitive league.
Wayne Rooney has also played down the prospect of a summer move to China by insisting he is in a “happy place” at Manchester United.
Chinese Super League clubs have made a number of high-profile signings recently, with Shanghai SIPG buying Brazil midfielder Oscar from Chelsea for 60 million euros ($64.46 million)
Mikel John Obi, joined Tianjin Teda. The 29-year-old Super Eagles caotain,, who spent more than a decade at Stamford Bridge, was given a free transfer by Chelsea and will earn £140,000 a week in China.
Shanghai SIPG rivals, Shanghai Shenhua signed Argentine striker Carlos Tevez for a reported 84 million euros, but Toure said money was not everything to him.
“Do you play football because you love football or do you play because you want to make money? Me, I just want to play football because I enjoy it,” he told British media.
“Some people have the mentality that they want to do that (go to China) – to try something different. But for me, my feeling is that I want to play more football.
“Look at my friend Ibrahimovic. He’s 35 and he’s going to play for maybe three more years? He’s got the same mentality as me. He’s a big player, a champion who loves football. It’s football first. Anything after that is a bonus.”
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