Xavi backs Chinese Super League to take Europe´s best

Former Barcelona star Xavi has encouraged Europe’s top clubs to take the threat of the Chinese Super League seriously as he expects the world’s best to move to Asia.

Carlos Tevez, Axel Witsel, Oscar and John Obi-Mikel have this month become the latest big names to move to the CSL.

And Xavi believes the CSL’s financial means will secure even bigger names, saying the league is “just getting started”.

“[China] now has to be taken very seriously,” Xavi told The Sun. “For so long, it’s been [the case that] Europe is the only destination for the world’s top players.

“China are showing that they mean business and they have the finances to attract the best players in Europe. Already they have great players, but it looks like they are just getting started.

“We have seen some of the best players join the MLS, but that was usually at the end of their career. What China are doing is totally different because they are attracting top players at the peak of their careers.

“The wages they are able to offer, Europe just can not compete with, and that makes China a very real destination for the best players.

“For so long now it has been about playing in one of the top four or five leagues in Europe and competing in the Champions League, but, if China are going to create a competitive league with top players and top coaches, it may be that Europe is not the only option for the world’s best.”