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Wenger, Conte react as Oscar leaves EPL for China

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Wenger, Conte react as Oscar leaves EPL for China

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Chelsea boss Antonio Conte have reacted – not positively – to the permanent transfer news of Chelsea midfielder Oscar to the Chinese super League.

The Brazilian, as confirmed by the Blues management on Friday, will be moving officially on a £60 million deal to Shanghai SIPG when the January transfer window opens in few weeks’ time.

Following the announcement, Wenger opined that the Chinese Super League could become a problem for English football, after admitting that the midfielder must have left due to not having enough playing time at Stamford Bridge.

“Yes, it’s a surprise, it’s a distortion, basically when you’re a football player you want to combine the quality of the competition with the quantity of your wages, it’s a surprise to me, but when I was in Japan, we had many Brazilian players.

“At the moment I think Oscar moves because he doesn’t play in the Premier League, China gives him that opportunity, as well, they invest a lot of money at the moment.

“Will it be a future problem for the Premier League? It could become!” said Wenger.

Read Also: Oscar moves to china, Chelsea confirms

Blues manager has also stated that the 25-year-old may have wasted a “great opportunity” of playing in the “fantastic” English Premier League following the confirmation of his transfer on Friday.

Conte, who has had Oscar start in just five league games this season, believes the player could end up regretting his decision. He said: “The Chinese market is a danger for all – for all the teams in the world not just Chelsea.

“I think we must concentrate on our work. We must not think that in China there is a lot of money and they can take the players. “I think that this league is fantastic and to play in this league is a great opportunity.”

However, Oscar – who was signed for £19m from Internacional in 2012 – following the splashing out of £60m by his new club, has now become the seventh most-expensive signing of all time.

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