China hoping to produce next Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as they target 2050 World Cup

China want to produce their own Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in order to win the World Cup by 2050, according to an expert.

Simon Chadwick - a professor of sports enterprises at Salford University - says China does not necessarily intend to keep splashing huge money on the world's biggest names.

China has recently reduced its overseas players cap from five to four and the country is more determined to nurture its own talent, with Hebei China Fortune re-signing Chinese striker Tianyuan Xu back from Spanish club Rayo Vallecano.

Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ on China's transfer deadline day, Chadwick said: "The main reason for changing the overseas cap is that the Chinese are really trying to develop and grow their own talent.

"Ultimately, in five years or ten years, they want to have starting elevens consisting entirely of Chinese players. Obviously in the short to medium term that's difficult because they simply don't have the talent.

"But, moving forward from here, the intention of China will be to produce its own Messi, its own Ronaldo, and teams will consist of, essentially, eleven Chinese players, and these will go on and play for the national team.

"This is because, after all, the Chinese are looking towards 2050, because the Chinese government has announced that, by 2050, they want the Chinese national team to have won the World Cup."