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Players to watch in 2017 CSL

Xinhua, March 3, 2017 Adjust font size:

The Chinese Super League (CSL) of 2017 season is going to kick off this weekend. As a huge amount of investment from CSL clubs flew into the transfer market in recent years, which brought in many top players, this year's league is destined to be star-spangled. Following are some footballers which worth focusing on in the new season.

Oscar - Shanghai SIPG

The Brazilian international, who has been reported to break the Chinese clubs' transfer record in a deal worth 64 million US dollars this winter, is no doubt on the top of the list. The 25-year-old attacking midfielder has spent four years in Premier League club Chelsea, where he scored 38 goals in 203 appearances and won the league title in the year of 2015.

Oscar has drawn comparisons to players such as Mesut Ozil and fellow Brazilian Kaka due to his playmaking abilities. On 20 August 2011, he scored three goals in the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup final win against Portugal, becoming the first ever player to score a hat-trick in the FIFA U-20 World Cup final.

Hulk - Shanghai SIPG

Another Brazilian international Hulk, who joined Shanghai SIPG in a deal reported to be 58.8 million US dollars last summer, was the previous transfer fees record holder before Oscar's arrival. The former Zenit striker has entertained fans in the first two rounds of AFC Champions League group stage games, in which he contributed two goals and two assists.

Tevez - Shanghai Shenhua

After penned a two-year contract with Shenhua, the Argentine former Manchester United and Manchester City striker has been reported to be the world's highest-paid player. Although a 33-year-old veteran, Tevez seemed to have kept his level in the last years when playing for his home club Boca Juniors, where he capped 34 times and scored 14 goals.

Pato - Tianjin Quanjian

If there was no injuries, Pato could have become one of the top strikers in the world. He once was regarded as the hope of the Selecao and Italian football club AC Milan, but rapidly fell from the peak due to injuries. After struggled several years in Brazil, England and Spain, the 27-year-old chose to play for Chinese promoted side Quanjian, where he wanted to find the best of himself back.

Witsel - Tianjin Quanjian

Under Italian coach Canavano, Quanjian must be ambitious for the coming new season, especially after signing Belgian international Witsel. The 28-year-old is a all-rounder on the pitch, as he can play central midfielder, attacking midfielder and even right-winger. He made his senior international debut in 2008 and has earned over 70 caps for Belgium, representing the country at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2016.

Wu Lei - Shanghai SIPG

As the currently all-time top scorer for Shanghai SIPG with 115 goals, Wu Lei has been seen as the hope of China's attacking line since he cut a figure. He made his debut for the club on 2 September 2006 in a 5-3 loss against Yunnan Lijiang Dongba, becoming youngest ever player to play professional Chinese football aged 14 years and 287 days.

Since helping the CSL outfit promote to the top-tier in the year of 2013, he was able to score double-figure goals in the league for each season.

Chinese players in Guangzhou Evergrand

The reason why we mention the six-time defending CSL champions is that the CSL outfit have announced to field a local-player-only squad by 2020, after years of success fueled by big-money foreign signings. Whether they can achieve this target largely depend on the performance of their local players in the coming three or four years.

Chinese U-23 players

The Chinese Football Association set a new rule recently that for all CSL games, there should be at least two under-23 players in each team's matchday rosters, one of whom should be included in the starting 11. This is one of the measures that the governing body of Chinese football has introduced to "benefit the overall development of Chinese football and local players".

The youngster have been given the chances, now it is the time for them to polish themselves and help strengthen the quality of the national team. Endit