Wanda chief Wang Jianlin reveals first batch of Chinese soccer ‘Rising Stars’ is almost ready to bloom

Chinese real estate magnate Wang Jianlin said that a soccer youth development scheme that saw some 180 youngsters from China receive a footballing education in Spain six years ago will soon bear fruit.

Wang said the “Rising Stars” initiative established in 2011 will yield players good enough to make the grade in the Chinese second tier by the end of the year, in comments to Xinhua.

The ¥100 million (HK$113 million) scheme saw promising youngsters travel to Spain to further develop their skills while training with Uefa Champions League quarter-finalists Atletico Madrid.

Wang conceded that the young players would not be ready to help China in their current World Cup qualifying campaign saying “youth training takes time.”

He encouraged a longer-term approach to the development of Chinese talent.

“In terms of fostering players, we have to be patient and wait for up to 10 years before real results can be realised,” said Wang, whose Wanda Group bought a 20 per cent stake in Atletico in 2015.

“You have to first try new measures in order to determine whether or not they will work. After all, there is no soccer power in the world that relies on other countries to foster and train its own young talent.”