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Stars who justify Asamoah Gyan's move to China

Asamoah Gyan was criticized for his transfer move to China last summer. After China's bid to be a football powerhouse, here are transfer signings that justify the Black Stars captain's move

Asamoah Gyan was happy in the Arabian Gulf League. He was scoring for his Al Ain side and the club’s officials were pleased to have the Ghana international as their forward.

The move to China was quick as the sharp pain that probably flashed in the hearts of Al Ain fans upon hearing their top goal scorer was moving on. The rumours surfaced in the same time frame as the official news of Asamoah Gyan to Shanghai SIPG came to light.

To some Ghanaian football fans, it was a refueling of an old upset. They could not live with the reality of their national team captain leaving the English Premier League for the Arabian Gulf League. And now China?

It was all about the money, they accused Africa’s top scorer at a FIFA World Cup tournament. And though Asamoah Gyan has never denied that money could have been part of his motivation for such transfer moves, China actually has a plan of becoming a football powerhouse.

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And you should know that with their record of imitating everything they deem fit, the football dream is one to be realized.

Asamoah Gyan may have moved for the money [I mean who wouldn’t for a reported £210 000-a-week deal?] but China is becoming a football force and here are stars who justified the Black Stars captain’s move to the Chinese Super League:

Ramires

Seven years at Benfica and Chelsea will warrant Brazil international Ramires a place in most top clubs in Europe. The 28-year-old after his time with English Premier League Champions Chelsea decided to move to China.

For a transfer fee in the region of £25 million, Jiangsu Suning did not sign the former Chelsea player to just come and pile up the cash. This is a football revolution at its best.

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Jackson Martinez

The player was the Portuguese league’s top scorer in the three seasons he spent with FC Porto. That sums up his quality as a player.

Linked with a host of top clubs in Europe, Martinez joined Spanish La Liga side Atletico Madrid.

After half a season with Diego Simone’s side, China came calling and with a whopping £31 million. Done deal it was.

Jackson Martinez is a player of Guangzhou Evergrande.

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Gervinho

Ivory Coast international Gervais Yao Kouassi has 71 cap with his nation and was part of the squad that won the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Having played for Lille and Arsenal and AS Roma, Gervinho could have easily stayed in Europe.

Hebei China Fortune enticed with three times the salary he was taking at AS Roma, and Gervinho will be playing in the Chinese league starting March.

Fredy Guarin

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Fredy Alejandro Guarin Vasquez is the name. Shanghai Greenland Shenhua is the new club. £8 million is the transfer fee.

Alex Teixera

Liverpool were keen on signing the Brazil international but Chinese club Jiangsu Suning muscled their way through for a transfer deal. Four years contract with a gargantuan transfer money.

Shakhtar Donestsk will be happy. Jiangsu Suning are happy. And Alex Teixeira Santos will surely be happy with the weekly wages … and the football in China too.

Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka have all played in the Chinese Super League and that takes nothing from their outstanding football career. Former Chelsea player Demba Ba is in China, former Tottenham Hotspur Paulinho also joined Chongqing Lifan and China’s top flight seek to add more.

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Asamoah Gyan paved the way and even if it was for the money, the Black Stars captain was part of the beginning of something in the making, current transfer deals have proved.

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