Is this South American superstar on his way to Guangzhou?
The Chinese football media is buzzing with reports that 2010 Brazilian league player of the year Darío Conca is to join Guangzhou Evergrande for $10 million in the summer transfer window.
The Cantonese club has set the Chinese Super League on fire this year after being taken over last year by Evergrade Real Estate group, with a series of record-breaking signings of players such as Brazilian striker Cleo from Partizan Belgrade, and some China’s best domestic talent, such as Zheng Zhi, once of Celtic and Charlton, and former Shanghai Shenhua players Gao Lin and Sun Xiang.
Cleo joined Guangzhou for a Chinese record Euro 3.2 million in the close season ($4.5 million), but if the rumours turn out to be true, the signing of Fluminese’s Argentinian attacking midfielder for $10 million would dwarf this.
The reports say the transfer is close to being confirmed and that one of Guangzhou’s existing foreign contingent, the Brazilians Muriqui, Renato Cajá, Paulão or possibly even the aforementioned Cleo would have to leave to accommodate him. The Chinese Super League allows only 4 foreign players on the pitch for any one team at anytime, one of whom must be from an Asian country.
