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Jonathan White

Middlesbrough midfielder John Mikel Obi did not mince his words about his time in China in a recent interview.
The Nigeria captain returned to England in the last transfer window, signing for the Championship club from Chinese Super League side Tianjin Teda.
Mikel had been in China for two seasons after leaving English Premier League side Chelsea in January 2017.
The 31-year-old, who has impressed at his new club, offered advice to those who might consider following in his footsteps.
“My advice to anyone thinking about going, is have a long think about it,” he told The Telegraph. “You have to go at the right time.
“I certainly wouldn’t say to anyone under the age of 30 to go there. They will regret it if they do.




“It’s worth doing for a couple of years, if only to learn a different culture, to give yourself an experience that takes you out of your comfort zone, but do not be tempted by the money if you are young. Do your research, check what sort of club you are going to.
“You should wait until you are approaching the end of your career. The money makes the move tempting, we’re only human, but do not be tempted by the size of the cheque if you are in the prime of your career. It’s not worth it.”
It’s an understandable view, especially from a player who revealed he could not get a Premier League contract in January, but there are plenty of players it seems who are all too happy to ignore Mikel’s misgivings.
Guangzhou Evergrande 1-0 Tianjin Teda


Take Paulinho, who scored the winner for Guangzhou Evergrande in their 1-0 victory over Mikel’s former teammates on Friday night.
The Brazilian may be 30 but he first joined Evergrande as a 24-year-old and played the best football of his career. What’s more, he translated that to a move to Barcelona where he won the La Liga title. There are not many better clubs to earn a transfer to and there is no reason why Paulinho’s 25-year-old teammate Anderson Talisca cannot follow that lead.
If he continues to impress in China then a move to a big European club will follow in due course.
Shanghai SIPG 3-2 Jiangsu Suning


Up and down the Chinese Super League this weekend there was evidence to refute Mikel’s suggestion.
Champions Shanghai SIPG had probably the best example in Mikel’s former Chelsea teammate Oscar.
Now 27, the Brazilian left London for Shanghai in the same transfer window as Mikel but his time in China has been more successful.
After leading the league in assists last season, he has started where he left off and was involved in all three goals at Shanghai Stadium on Saturday night.
His pass to Elkeson was forced in for the opener and he drove the ball forward for the second before setting up LuWenjun for the third, playing a corner to the edge of the box for the forward to curl home. Jiangsu pulled two goals back but the champions made it two wins from two.
Shenzhen 2-1 Tianjin Tianhai


Across town, Odion Ighalo scored his first goal for Shanghai Shenhua. The gossip columns had linked the former Watford man with a move to Barcelona in the transfer window after he scored 21 goals for Changchun Yatai last season.
Ighalo’s new team will need a similar return this season. They slumped to a second consecutive home loss with 25-year-old Ayoub El Kaabi on the scoresheet for Hebei China Fortune in their 2-1 win.
Elsewhere, Shenzhen came from behind in dramatic finish against Tianjin Tianhai.
Colombian Harold Preciado hit an injury-time penalty to equalise for the hosts before turning provider for Mi Haolun’s late winner.
The 24-year-old was once on the fringes of the Colombia national team and he could stake his claim if he makes the step up from China League One look so effortless.
Guangzhou R&R 3-3 Dalian Yifang

an
Tianjin Tianhai’s goal was a screamer from Renatinho, a player who has now entered his fifth season in the CSL.
The Brazilian’s former teammates at Guangzhou R&F played out a 3-3 thriller with Dalian Yifang. Eran Zahavi, another player who has turned 30 since moving to China, scored two for the hosts with fellow Israeli striker Dia Saba, 26, also on the scoresheet.
Yannick Carrasco, linked with Arsenal in the last window, scored twice for Dalian.
In Jinan, Shandong Luneng and Henan Jianye played out a 2-2 draw.
Brazilian 22-year-old Roger Guedes got both for the hosts, while Cameroon striker Christian Bassogog, 23, had put his side ahead.
Shandong Luneng 2-2 Henan Jianye


Beijing Guoan put in the performance of the weekend with a 4-0 romp away at Chongqing Lifan.
Jonathan Viera opened the scoring in the first minute and Cedric Bakambu, who already had a goal chalked off, added the second, then Zhang Yuning scored his first goal with the third before half-time. The 21-year-old will surely have no regrets returning to China from a trio of disappointing spells in Europe. If he can fulfil his potential then he can be another player on the growing list whose career is made rather than ended in the CSL.
Chongqing Lifan 0-4 Beijing Guoan




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Chinese Super League

Chinese Super League: maybe John Mikel Obi is wrong and China move can be career making

Oscar added another two assists for Shanghai SIPG on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Chinese Super League predictions almost impossible as unmissable title run-in and relegation battle promise late goals

Shanghai SIPG’s Wu Lei could be key in the Chinese Super League title race. Photo: AFP

(FILES) This file photo taken on July 18, 2018 shows Guangzhou Evergrande's Anderson Talisca (R) kicking the ball during their 2018 Chinese Football Association Super League football match against Guizhou Hengfeng in Guangzhou in China's southern Guangdong province. - Anderson Talisca is ripping it up in the Chinese Super League (CSL), plundering 11 goals in eight games since joining Guangzhou Evergrande to show why he was on the radar of Jose Mourinho. (Photo by STR / AFP) / China OUT / TO GO WITH Fbl-Asia-CHN-Guangzhou-Talisca-BRA,FOCUS by Peter Stebbings

Shanghai SIPG's Hulk (C) fights for the ball with Kashima Antlers's Leo Silva (R) and Ueda Naomichi (L) during the AFC Champions League round of 16 football match between China's Shinghai SIPG and Japan's Kashima Antlers in Shanghai on May 16, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / - / China OUT

(FILES) This file photo taken on July 18, 2018 shows Guangzhou Evergrande's Anderson Talisca reacting during their 2018 Chinese Football Association Super League football match against Guizhou Hengfeng in Guangzhou in China's southern Guangdong province. - Anderson Talisca is ripping it up in the Chinese Super League (CSL), plundering 11 goals in eight games since joining Guangzhou Evergrande to show why he was on the radar of Jose Mourinho. (Photo by STR / AFP) / China OUT / TO GO WITH Fbl-Asia-CHN-Guangzhou-Talisca-BRA,FOCUS by Peter Stebbings

(FILES) This file photo taken on May 15, 2018 shows Tianjin Quanjian's head coach Fabio Cannavaro gesturing during the AFC Champions League round of 16 football match between China's Guangzhou Evergrande and Tianjin Quanjian in Guangzhou in China's southern Guangdong province. - The Chinese Super League (CSL) is in the throes of the most closely contested title race in its history with just three points separating the top four as they approach the home straight. Beijing Guoan and Shanghai SIPG share the top spot on equal points with the two sides meeting at the end of September 2018 in what is shaping up to be a championship six-pointer. (Photo by STR / AFP) / China OUT

Sport

China


Former Tianjin Teda midfielder suggested that players under 30 who move to China would regret it
Ex-Chelsea teammate Oscar at Shanghai SIPG leads a growing list of footballers who are adding to their reputations in the CSL




Former Tianjin Teda midfielder suggested that players under 30 who move to China would regret it



Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Column

The East Stand

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}The East Stand | Chinese Super League: maybe John Mikel Obi is wrong and China move can be career making

The East Stand | Chinese Super League: maybe John Mikel Obi is wrong and China move can be career making