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China to curb spending after world-record wages for Carlos Tevez and Oscar

Carlos Tevez celebrates his goal against River Plate while playing for rivals Boca Juniors
Image: Carlos Tevez is on around £615,000 a week at Shanghai Shenua after joining from Boca Juniors

China's government has told the country's football clubs to curb their spending in the wake of big-money moves for Oscar and Carlos Tevez.

Former Manchester United striker Tevez has become the world's highest-paid footballer, on around £615,000 a week, after moving to Shanghai Shenhua.

Shanghai SIPG signed Oscar from Chelsea for £60m and are reportedly paying him in excess of £500,000 a week.

A state sports spokesman vowed action to put the brakes on "irrational investment" and said China will seek to rein in high-priced transfers and keep player salaries "reasonable".

Brazilian football player Oscar (C) receives flowers as he arrives at Shanghai airport on January 2, 2017.  
Brazilian midfielder Oscar landed in Shanghai
Image: Oscar (C) is welcomed to Shanghai

Chinese Super League clubs, encouraged by President Xi Jinping's drive to turn China into a football power, have broken the Asian transfer record five times in less than a year.

Cristiano Ronaldo's agent said the Ballon D'Or winner had turned down a world-record £257m bid from China.

Antonio Conte, manager of Oscar's former club Chelsea, has called the Chinese market a "danger for all teams in the world".

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The government announcement omitted any figures when it referred to "limits" on salaries and transfer fees.

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