USA and China vie for marquee signings Torres and Falcao
Both the MLS and the CSL are interested in Fernando Torres and Radamel Falcao, as the battle to sign big names heats up the market.
A winter of heavy spending saw China emerge as a real player in the international transfer world where money talks and talent packs its bags for the right price. January saw Chelsea’s Ramires move to Jiangsu Suning for a Chinese Super League record €28m, Hebei China Fortune bought Ivorian striker Gervinho from AS Roma for €18m and Shanghai Shenhua pounced on Inter Milan’s Colombian international Fredy Guarin for €13m.
Fernando Torres and Falcao are reportedly next on the target list in this spending-spree in the Middle Kingdom. 29 year-old Jackson Martínez recently moved to for a record 42 million euros ($46 million) to Guangzhou Evergrande, Atleti making a profit on a player who just didn't fit.
Torres has already been told that his loan move will not be made permanent at the Calderón, but El Niño has already said no to a move to China before the end of the season. "I want to win a trophy with Atlético, that's why I'm here", he insisted in a recent interview.
His first choice will be to stay put with his boyhood club, but if a contract is not forthcoming, the MLS and the Chinese Superleague are two places with the doors wide open.
The MLS has become a destination for big names who are nearing the end if their careers, but the CSL is trying to challenge for that honour with big money offers.
Myths the magnitude of Pele and Neskeens cut a path to North America, upon which names in flashing lights such as Villa, Gerrard, Giovinco, Drogba and Lampard have followed.
Of the 10 most expensive signings made in the winter window, however, 5 were made by Chinese clubs, as they put their yuans on the table to compete with the MLS.
Falcao enjoys spending time in Miami, where David Beckham is putting a team together with the help of some Qatari petrodollars, coming soon in 2018, and Torres was treated as an idol in China on a recent Atletico Madrid visit.
While the U.S. proves a more attractive prospect for footballers who have given their best years in Europe, De Jong and Ashley Cole two other recent arrivals, the MLS cannot compete with the salaries being offered by a cash-rich Chinese drive to elevate the status of the national league with the political compliance of the Chinese Communist Party.