Conca denies move to Chinese Super League just for money

Argentine midfielder Conca (Xinhuanet file photo)

Fluminense's Argentine midfielder Conca said money was not the main factor in his decision to return to the Chinese league.

According to the Brazilian news hub UOL, Conca will sign a two-year contract with Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG for 56 million reals (about 22 million US dollars).

The 32-year-old midfielder, who played for Guangzhou Evergrande between 2011 and 2013, said in an interview with Sport TV on Tuesday that he agreed to the move not simply for the lucrative offer from Shanghai SIPG, but also because of Fluminense's delay in paying his image rights fee.

Conca said that if the club had been financially healthy after Unimed parted ways with Fluminense in the end of 2014, the negotiations for his transfer would have been more complicated.

"Certainly (the reason for my departure is) the internal problems, some things that happen within the club, make me consider departure as the best way. If I had a better plan provided by Fluminense, it would be more difficult for me to accept the transfer. I will not speak ill of anyone, I am grateful to Fluminense and the people who are there. But I'm not just for the money, not," Conca told SporTV.

Although Shanghai SIPG has yet to confirm Conca's transfer, Brazilian media reported that Fluminense and Conca himself have both accepted the deal.

Conca said that he would face difficulties in his second spell in the Chinese league. "It's hard and a very huge challenge to me, even though I know that place," he said.

Conca helped Evergrande win the AFC Champions League in 2011 and complete a treble of Chinese Super League title between 2011 and 2013. He returned to his former club Fluminense last January and scored 16 goals from 59 matches in 2014.

Conca is the latest high-profile singing by Chinese league sides. Earlier this month, Brazil international midfielder Ricardo Goulart from Cruzeiro signed a four-year deal with Guangzhou Evergrande, while Brazil striker Diego Tardelli from Atletico Mineiro signed up for Shandong Luneng.

Cuca, who took over China's Shandong Luneng after guiding Atletico Mineiro to their first ever Libertadores Cup title in 2012, explained the reason for the flux of Brazilian league's top players to China.

"In Brazil, almost a third goes to taxes and it is difficult to get paid on time, while in China you are guaranteed to get your money on time. I'm not going to lie, I came here firstly to ensure my financial independence," said Cuca.