East Asia China

Fabio Cannavaro: Foreign players should not come to China just for money

Tianjin Quanjian manager Fabio Cannavaro has warned that foreign footballers who made the move to China in the belief that it will be an easy payday will not be successful.

According to European media, five of the World’s best-paid footballers are currently playing in China, including Carlos Tevez (Shanghai Shenhua) and Ezequiel Lavezzi (Hebei China Fortune).

However, Cannavaro said China football “is not easy” and any player who comes for the money “won’t enjoy it here.”

“If the players come here with motivation, they can really enjoy it. But if the players come here just to get money, they won’t enjoy it. Football in China is not easy. You play in stadiums like this where if you are not fit if you don’t concentrate 100 percent, you cannot play,” the former World Cup winner said.

“If you change countries, if you come to Asia to play, of course, the money is important because it is not just about glory,” he added.