Corinthians look to lucrative Asian market

Corinthians vice-president Luis Paulo Rosenberg has signalled the club’s intention to pursue a greater share of the Asian market.

As new signing Chen Zhizhao settled into the Brazilian club, Rosenberg explained on Friday why Corinthians so strongly pursued the link with China.

After a drawn-out negotiation the 23-year-old forward, dubbed ‘Zizao’ in Sao Paulo in homage to French legend Zinedine Zidane, finally completed a two-year loan deal and is now training with his new team-mates.

He will be the first Chinese footballer to play in the Brazilian league when he makes his debut.

“I could not make such a deal with the English. There, they would be all hooligans who drink afternoon tea. It would not work in Japan either,” Rosenberg told Estadao.

“There are great similarities between the Corinthians nation and the Chinese, a people who are extremely emotional, hard-working and long suffering.”

“It is sad, their football is not up to the standard of their ping-pong and badminton. We want to take our talent over there and bring in the youngster to help them realise their potential.”

Amir Somoggi, director of sports marketing firm BDO which was consulted in the deal by Corinthians, said the Brazilians had the potential to make huge profits in the Asian market.

“The Europeans do not reveal their accounts, but a team like Real Madrid can make a fortune with friendlies across the world,” he said.

“With merchandising the figure can be much higher. In my opinion, Corinthians’ strategy has to work the other way round.”

“To go there first and conquer the Chinese. But they will be the only ones there playing that game.”