Chinese influence ever more present in the world of football

The announcement of a new friendly competition (China Cup) between national teams organised in China each year from 2017 by the conglomerate Wanda, with the agreement of FIFA, the summer tours of the biggest European football brands, such as Manchester United, Manchester City, and Borrusia Dortmund (International Champions Cup) in the country, the acquisition of clubs like FC Internazionale Milano and Aston Villa FC, more than €130m spent acquiring players during the short period of transfers of the Chinese Super League (21/06 - 17/07/2016) ... China continues to increase its presence in the world of football.

"The majority of the fan base of major European football clubs is now located in China," noted Richard Lamb, international business director at Inter Milan, at the World Football Forum 2016 in Paris (FRA), on 08/07/2016.

The development of football in China is the desire of the Chinese president, Xi Jinping. Not only because of his personal interest in the sport, but also for reasons of economic diversification, social cohesion, and soft power. The Chinese men's national team…