Sven-Goran Eriksson lures Dario Conca back to China in 'US$11m deal'
Swede entices Argentine star to sign with Shanghai SIPG club in Chinese Super League
Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has lured Argentine star Dario Conca back to the Chinese Super League, his club Shanghai SIPG said on Wednesday, on a deal reported to be worth almost US$11 million a year.
“Conca will arrive in Shanghai soon and will be formally signed after a medical,” the club said on its verified account on China’s Twitter-like Sina Weibo.
Conca returns to China after only a year at Brazilian club Fluminense, which he joined following three successful seasons at Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande.
He is the latest in a series of signings by Eriksson, who has been building up Shanghai since he became coach in November on a deal reportedly worth up to US$6 million a year.
The move for the 31-year-old would suggest the Swede is attempting to replicate the success of former Guangzhou boss Marcello Lippi.
The Italian World Cup winning manager stepped down last year after leading the Guangdong outfit to their fourth successive Chinese title, and guiding the team to AFC Champions League glory in 2013.