Wenger comments on $73.7m transfer of South American star

Arsene Wenger has reacted to the transfer which surprised much of the football world a few days ago.

Chelsea said goodbye to star midfielder Oscar who agreed to join Chinese side Shanghai SIPG in a $73.7 million deal.

One of Wenger’s own players, Alexis Sanchez, was linked with a big money move to China before Oscar’s transfer was completed a couple of days ago.

But the Frenchman has admitted he did not see the 25-year-old’s move to Asia coming.

“Yeah, it’s a surprise. It’s a distortion. When you’re a football player, you want to combine the quality of the competition with the quality of your wages – and the quantity.” the Arsenal manager said

“It is a surprise to me, but I must say that when I was in Japan, they had many Brazilian players like Leonardo, Jorginho, Dunga. At the time they were big players and moved over there.

“The competition was well organised and was of top quality. I don’t really know well but at the moment I think Oscar moves because he doesn’t play in the Premier League.

“China gives him that opportunity, and as well they invest a lot of money at the moment to create a big force. Will it be a problem for the Premier League in the future? It could become one.”