Opinion | As China looks to upset football’s world order, January transfer splurge could be just the start

The money offered by Jiangsu – Ramires cost Chelsea £8 million less from Benfica in 2010 – was far too good to reject. The player, too, will be receiving a pay packet far in excess of whatever ridiculous sum he was already on.

He’s not the only player planning a Scrooge McDuck-style vault to house the renminbi coming his way. Chinese Super League teams are gearing up for the start of the new season in March, and have spent more money in this transfer window – which doesn’t close for another month – than anyone else.

Roma supporters have been scratching their heads at getting shot of the frequently hapless Ivorian striker Gervinho for €18 million to Hebei, more than twice what they paid Arsenal for him in 2013. Internazionale fans felt much the same as Colombian Fredy Guarin packed his bags for Shanghai Shenhua.These are just the high-profile moves from Europe. Brazil has been plundered, with Corinthians playmaker Renato turning down a return to the Bundesliga for Beijing Guoan. “There was a very good offer from Germany, three times more than I make here at Corinthians,” he said. “But then came an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

It’s another example of how China’s new-found determination to become a footballing superpower – President Xi Jinping has said, “make it so” and businesses are rushing to get in his good books – seems set to upset football’s established order.

Tony Rallis, an Australian agent, took his client Trent Sainsbury from mid-table Dutch club PEC Zwolle to join Ramires in Jiangsu. He was staggered by plans for the next 20 years shown to him by Chinese football insiders.