China’s Shanghai Shenhua eyes Turkish swoop

ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News

Hürriyet photo

Emre Belözoğlu could become the latest in a long list of veteran players opting to play in the Chinese Football League as Shanghai Shenhua look set to sign the Turkish midfielder at the end of the season, daily Milliyet reported yesterday.

The 32-year-old Turkish international’s contract with Fenerbahçe ends at the conclusion of the season, and he could be lured east with a 3.3 million-euro offer from Shenhua, the daily added.

Milliyet said Atletico Madrid, Benfica and Aston Villa are also interested in Emre, but he is reportedly tempted by the lucrative offer.

If Emre accepts the Shenhua offer, he will team up with former Fenerbahçe star Nicolas Anelka, who became the most high-profile foreign footballer ever to sign for the Chinese league. The team is coached by former France ace Jean Tigana, who coached Beşiktaş in the 2007-2008 campaign.

The big-name arrivals come a year after a major crackdown on widespread match fixing that left senior officials facing jail and severely damaged the reputation of China’s Super League.

The Chinese club has declined to say how much Anelka will earn for his two-year contract with the team.

The new Super League season starts in March.

Shenhua was 11th in the Chinese league last season.