Shanghai SIPG sign ex-Real Madrid and Chelsea player Ricardo Carvalho
Portuguese defender is latest to join the Chinese Super League, though his role will mainly be as a back-up
Shanghai SIPG confirmed on Wednesday the signing of former Real Madrid and Chelsea player Ricardo Carvalho, the official Xinhua news agency said, making him the latest foreigner to be tempted by the riches of China’s Super League.
Carvalho’s signing had been finalised by the end of winter training, but the announcement was delayed as China’s new restrictions on foreign players forced the team to “think carefully” about his role, Xinhua cited SIPG as saying.
Last month, the Chinese Football Association announced it would cut foreign player numbers in top-flight teams to curb massive spending on overseas talent.
The new rules will permit teams to field no more than three foreigners in a match when the new 2017 season begins in March.
This will put a squeeze on the game time for SIPG’s stable of talent, which already includes four foreign players: Brazilian powerhouses Oscar, Hulk, and Elkeson, as well as Uzbek midfielder Odil Ahmedov.