BEIJING - China will send up to 500 teenagers to train at top European clubs over the next five years, according to the Chinese Football Association.
BEIJING - China will send up to 500 teenagers to train at top European clubs over the next five years, according to the Chinese Football Association.
The plan by China's new football chief, Wei Di, is aimed at developing the country's most talented players between the ages of 15 and 17, who are expected to spend two or three years at various European clubs in small groups of five or six.
"We are working on the details of the project. There will be 80 to 100 players dispatched to Europe each and every year from this year on," Chinese Football Association spokesperson Dong Hua told Reuters by telephone.
Chinese media said Spain's La Liga would be the major destination as Wei believes there is a similarity in body size and strength between Chinese and Spanish footballers.
"We have been in good cooperation with many European FAs (football associations) and clubs," said Dong.
"We want our young players with the best potential to train in the Spanish, English, German, Italian and Dutch leagues, which have the highest standards of youth development." - Reuters
Chinese teens train in Europe
BEIJING - China will send up to 500 teenagers to train at top European clubs over the next five years, according to the Chinese Football Association.
BEIJING - China will send up to 500 teenagers to train at top European clubs over the next five years, according to the Chinese Football Association.
The plan by China's new football chief, Wei Di, is aimed at developing the country's most talented players between the ages of 15 and 17, who are expected to spend two or three years at various European clubs in small groups of five or six.
"We are working on the details of the project. There will be 80 to 100 players dispatched to Europe each and every year from this year on," Chinese Football Association spokesperson Dong Hua told Reuters by telephone.
Chinese media said Spain's La Liga would be the major destination as Wei believes there is a similarity in body size and strength between Chinese and Spanish footballers.
"We have been in good cooperation with many European FAs (football associations) and clubs," said Dong.
"We want our young players with the best potential to train in the Spanish, English, German, Italian and Dutch leagues, which have the highest standards of youth development." - Reuters
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