In June 2016, a multitude of supporters gathered at Shanghai airport to witness one of the most renowned footballers in the world establish his residence in the city.
Hulk, a 29-year-old Brazilian international player at the height of his career, was acquired by Shanghai SIPG manager Sven-Goran Eriksson for a sum exceeding £46m and was set to receive a reported weekly salary of £320,000.
Upon his arrival, he was greeted with a bouquet of flowers and a Shanghai SIPG scarf placed around his neck.
In the subsequent three years, other high-profile players were brought in, commanding even larger transfer fees.
Chelsea’s Oscar arrived half a year later, with a transfer fee of approximately £60m and a weekly wage believed to be £400,000.
Carlos Tevez, a Premier League champion with Manchester United and City, reportedly earned even more upon his arrival.
Ezequiel Lavezzi from Paris St-Germain, Alex Teixeira targeted by Liverpool, and Colombian striker Jackson Martinez were also enticed with substantial transfer fees and lucrative salaries.
The emergence of the Super League coincided with President Xi Jinping’s vision to transform China into a footballing powerhouse. In 2011, he unveiled aspirations for the men’s national team to qualify for a World Cup and for China to eventually host the tournament.
As the Chinese Super League began investing significant amounts of money, his goal of elevating the nation into a football superpower began to materialize.