China an 'El Dorado' for Copa America stars

About 20,000 kilometers separate their respective coastlines, but that won't stop China from having a presence at this year's Copa America in Chile.

South America's quadrennial continental tournament will kick off on June 11 when Chile take on Ecuador at Santiago's Estadio Nacional.

While the tournament's attacking stars like Argentina's Lionel Messi, Brazil's Neymar and Chile's Alexis Sanchez ply their trade at European clubs, not all are based in the old continent.

Two of them, in fact, play in China.

Shandong Luneng's Diego Tardelli is the first China-based player to be called up to Brazil's national team while Changchun Yatai striker Marcelo Moreno will be the headline act for Bolivia.

Brazil coach Dunga said the pair reflected China's growing attraction as a destination for the world's top players, especially in the twilight of their careers.

"Europe was always the place where Brazilians went when they were 28 or 29," Dunga told reporters recently.

"Now they go there when they are 18 or 19 and Asia has become the place for experienced players. China is the new El Dorado. That's the way football has gone and we have to adapt to that in the best way possible to help the national team."

There are currently 24 Brazilians playing at Chinese clubs.

While the figure does not come close to the hundreds based in Europe, Dunga said the gap was closing.

According to website Transfermarkt, China's Super League was the world's second highest-spending competition during the most recent transfer window, which closed on January 31.

Chinese clubs outlaid about 78 million US dollars on new signings during the period. Only England's Premier League, with a combined 82 million-dollar transfer bill, splashed out more.

Among the biggest signings was 30-year-old Tardelli, who joined Shandong Luneng in January from Brazil's Atletico Mineiro for about six million dollars. The value of Moreno's move to Changchun Yatai was not disclosed.

After an injury-interrupted start to the season, Tardelli has scored two goals from seven matches for his new club. Moreno, 27, has netted four times from 10 matches.

Knowing that their international careers are no longer compromised by playing in Asia, South American players will be even more drawn to China in the coming years, according to Dunga.

"It's all about globalization and economics," said Dunga, who himself was called up to Brazil's national team while playing for Japan's Jubilo Iwata in the late 1990s.

"Some European clubs don't have the financial capacity to invest in these players. China is an emerging country with conditions that are attracting a lot of players and coaches," he added. Endi