29.1.2004

Manchester United purchase Chinese kid

European giant FC Manchester United have just purchased 18-year-old Dong Fangzhuo of Dalian Shide. The English have paid 3.5 million pounds for the youngster who will not even play with them. Dong will be sent over to Royal Antwerp of the Belgian First Division and will remain there until he gains enough experience.
"Although Dong Fangzhuo is very young, he's got a very strong mind. Such a person should have no problem wherever he goes," has claimed Chen Zhongqi, Dong's brother-in-law.

So what's the deal with Chinese footballers in the Premiership? Manchester City started the trend with Sun Jihai who was bought from Dalian after China's 2002 World Cup success. From a financial point of view, 3.5 million pounds seems a bit exaggerated for an 18-year old, who will not even start at the club. As good as Dong is, there are plenty of talented youngsters in Europe (and South America) whose signing would be much easier to handle. Is this an attempt by Manchester to diversify their recruitment pool? Is Manchester looking for young talent or are they just trying to improve their relations with the new Chinese player market? For 3.5 million pounds, Manchester could easily have purchased a young Brazilian that would even be good enough to play (or start) at the team...