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China reacts to signing of Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka: I want to watch the Chinese Super League again
Social media in the country has been buzzing with reactions since the acquisition of the French forward by Shanghai Shenhua was officially announced on Monday
15 Dec 2011 10:15:00
By Dan Orlowitz and Dapeng Liang
www.shenhuafc.com.cn
The country with a population of over one billion appears to have just as many opinions on Shanghai Shenhua's signing of Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka.
The deal, announced on Monday, will bring the 32-year-old Frenchman to the club for two years at a rumored salary of €12 million (£10m) per year. And since that announcement, reactions have come from all corners.
"It's a really big honour that I could be Anelka's team-mate," wrote Shenhua goalkeeper Wang Dalei on his Weibo, a Chinese Twitter-style service, account.
"Signing some big-name players is really important for Chinese football," added retired German midfielder Jorg Albertz, who spent over a year in Shanghai following his time at Hamburg and Rangers.
"In the future, more older players may want to end their careers in China."
Influential football journalist Yan Qiang noted that the veteran's arrival in Shanghai could mean even more to Jun's business ventures than it does for the club: "Shanghai Shenhua didn't sign Nicolas Anelka, [Zhu Jun-owned computer gaming operator and developer] The9 did."
The company is expected to use Anelka to promote its highly anticipated 2012 release FireFall both overseas and in China, which could lead to a massive financial windfall for the club's chairman.
Meanwhile, players on other teams are already considering the difficulties they will face in stopping the former France international.
"It's good that [a Chinese club] could sign Nicolas Anelka," wrote Shaanxi Renhe defender Sun Jihai, who played with the star at Manchester City.
"[Defending against Anelka] will be so difficult; nobody in the CSL can limit him. But football is a game about 11 players."
Jihai's comments received a response from none other than Zhu Jun himself on his personal Weibo account.
"I think Sun Jihai versus Nicolas Anelka is a good match-up," wrote the millionare businessman.
"But if we put two Anelkas on the pitch, how will you defend against us?"
Jun is said to be pursuing another blockbuster signing, potentially involving Chelsea striker Didier Drogba or former Barcelona star Ronaldinho.
Meanwhile, debate raged between fans across China who argued the merits of the signing.
"Thank you Zhu Jun!" commented one forum poster. "I haven't watched the Chinese Super League in a long time, but with Anelka's arrival I would like to see it again."
Meanwhile, rival supporters wondered if their clubs would respond in kind.
"How about buying some players from Real Madrid?" suggested one Guangzhou Evergrande fan. Meanwhile, a Beijing Guoan supporter believed that the only solution was to beat Shenhua to the punch.
"We need Didier Drogba!" he wrote.
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The deal, announced on Monday, will bring the 32-year-old Frenchman to the club for two years at a rumored salary of €12 million (£10m) per year. And since that announcement, reactions have come from all corners.
"It's a really big honour that I could be Anelka's team-mate," wrote Shenhua goalkeeper Wang Dalei on his Weibo, a Chinese Twitter-style service, account.
"Signing some big-name players is really important for Chinese football," added retired German midfielder Jorg Albertz, who spent over a year in Shanghai following his time at Hamburg and Rangers.
"In the future, more older players may want to end their careers in China."
Influential football journalist Yan Qiang noted that the veteran's arrival in Shanghai could mean even more to Jun's business ventures than it does for the club: "Shanghai Shenhua didn't sign Nicolas Anelka, [Zhu Jun-owned computer gaming operator and developer] The9 did."
The company is expected to use Anelka to promote its highly anticipated 2012 release FireFall both overseas and in China, which could lead to a massive financial windfall for the club's chairman.
Meanwhile, players on other teams are already considering the difficulties they will face in stopping the former France international.
"It's good that [a Chinese club] could sign Nicolas Anelka," wrote Shaanxi Renhe defender Sun Jihai, who played with the star at Manchester City.
"[Defending against Anelka] will be so difficult; nobody in the CSL can limit him. But football is a game about 11 players."
Jihai's comments received a response from none other than Zhu Jun himself on his personal Weibo account.
"I think Sun Jihai versus Nicolas Anelka is a good match-up," wrote the millionare businessman.
"But if we put two Anelkas on the pitch, how will you defend against us?"
Jun is said to be pursuing another blockbuster signing, potentially involving Chelsea striker Didier Drogba or former Barcelona star Ronaldinho.
Meanwhile, debate raged between fans across China who argued the merits of the signing.
"Thank you Zhu Jun!" commented one forum poster. "I haven't watched the Chinese Super League in a long time, but with Anelka's arrival I would like to see it again."
Meanwhile, rival supporters wondered if their clubs would respond in kind.
"How about buying some players from Real Madrid?" suggested one Guangzhou Evergrande fan. Meanwhile, a Beijing Guoan supporter believed that the only solution was to beat Shenhua to the punch.
"We need Didier Drogba!" he wrote.
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Live!
England 1-0 Belgium, Netherlands 2-0 Northern Ireland - follow all the international action LIVE! ahead of Euro 2012
With countries across the continent gearing up for their final warm-up games ahead of Euro 2012, join us for all the action from Saturday's friendlies. Get in touch with us via Twitter with your reaction.
Hosted by Joe Doyle
Hosted by Joe Doyle
19:46 BST
Joe Hart has also been giving his thoughts after the Belgium game: "It was a really tough game, a good run out. I thought we played well, [but] we were a little bit bitty at times.
"But, we came through. Obviously there were a lot of changes so it's good to get the result.
"Belgium are a very, very strong side who are going to be really good in the future. Vincent [Kompany] told me about them and said that they were coming good and I totally agree with him."
"But, we came through. Obviously there were a lot of changes so it's good to get the result.
"Belgium are a very, very strong side who are going to be really good in the future. Vincent [Kompany] told me about them and said that they were coming good and I totally agree with him."
19:38 BST
Here's Roy Hodgson's reaction to the result and some injury chat: "I'm very pleased, it's been a hard week and we've used a lot of players. There was a lot of disruption in the second-half with substitutions – some forced upon us, some we wanted to do. But it's still a very good end to the week playing against a good Belgian team here. Arguably even stronger than the Norwegian team we played last week and I've got to be more than happy that we've come out with another victory."
"[Gary] Cahill I suppose is slightly more of a concern for me because it is a jaw injury. We're desperately hoping the CT scan doesn't show any fracture and it's just going to be a bruising situation, which will be bad enough, but won't stop him taking part in the tournament. As far as John's [Terry] concerned he felt his hamstring a little bit. Again it wasn't a major thing when he came off but we still need to scan it just to be 100 per cent sure."
Suffice to say, if Cahill has broken his jaw, he won't play any part in the tournament.
"[Gary] Cahill I suppose is slightly more of a concern for me because it is a jaw injury. We're desperately hoping the CT scan doesn't show any fracture and it's just going to be a bruising situation, which will be bad enough, but won't stop him taking part in the tournament. As far as John's [Terry] concerned he felt his hamstring a little bit. Again it wasn't a major thing when he came off but we still need to scan it just to be 100 per cent sure."
Suffice to say, if Cahill has broken his jaw, he won't play any part in the tournament.
19:35 BST
And another point from today: Eden Hazard wasn't great. Don't think you can judge him on one performance though. What do you think? Is it just a case of too much hype around the Chelsea-bound Belgian?
19:32 BST
We're getting plenty of people saying it was boring. PLENTY. But Spain scored seven goals in eight games at the World Cup and I didn't hear too many of their fans complaining. Or as Fran Stinchcombe points out on Twitter: "If we had lost but played free flowing attacking football would these people still have moaned?"
19:24 BST
No, no, no. I'll have none of that Emile Heskey shouting anymore! Hello, it's me, it's me, it's that D-O-Y-L-E. Yes, I'm Joe Doyle, and I'll be here for all the reaction to that England game. First things first, how did everyone see that game? Good performance? A touch boring? Let me know on Twitter.
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