Former Chelsea ace Oscar has hinted that he could be open to a return to European competition five years after his landmark move to the Chinese Super League in 2016.
The 31-year-old made the move to Shanghai SIPG at the peak of his powers after falling out of favour with then-manager Antonio Conte for a reported £67million.
4Oscar admits he’d love a Premier League return with ChelseaCredit: AFP
Not only did his fee break the Asian transfer record, but his salary of an estimated £400,000 a week made him one of the highest-earning footballers in the world.
Oscar was part of a wave of talented international players that were drawn to the Chinese Super League in the mid-2010s, but by 2020, a salary cap for players was put in place, with foreign players only able to earn £2.7m a year.
Despite this change in circumstances and three seasons interrupted by China’s zero-Covid policy’s impact on the league, the playmaker remains happy with his decision to move away from Europe.
Although Oscar is content at Shanghai Port, he has refused to rule out a move back to Europe
The Brazilian’s 2016 move to China was marked a high watershed era for the troubled league
But in an interview with Premier League Brasil, he refused to rule out moving away from China for the right club.
‘It had only good results, both financially and in terms of getting to know a new country and football,’ Oscar said of his move.
‘I think I learned a lot and evolved here [in China]. In the five years that I stayed at Chelsea, I was very important for the team.
4The Brazilian quit Chelsea for China at the start of 2017 Credit: AP
‘I left at a time when we were winning a lot of games with [Antonio] Conte. I played the first 15 league games and then I got injured. Then I started to stay on the substitute bench, but the team kept winning and Conte kept it.
‘So I lost space in the team, the opportunity came to Shanghai and I embraced it. I have no regrets. I had a beautiful trajectory there, in my career I managed to do everything I dreamed of and I am also very happy here.’
‘As I left Europe at the age of 25, I always had an offer to return,’ he continued.
‘But nothing that got too close or that I really put my foot down to go back to. As I played for Chelsea for five years, I fulfilled my dream of playing for a big club in Europe.
4Oscar has been in stunning form at Shanghai SIGP following his £60m switch Credit: AFP
However, the player added: ‘If you paint something in a cool team, of course, we can think about it.’
He singled out the Premier League as his ‘favourite league’, saying: ‘There’s a game similar to mine, a dynamic and very fast game, so it was a league that I really enjoyed playing.
‘If I could go back to the Premier League, that would be really cool. I also like Italy, I have an Italian passport.’
The winger joined Chelsea from Brazilian side Internacional in 2012, making 144 appearances for the Blues before his exit four years later.
Oscar spoke of the ‘huge affection’ he has for the club and the players such as Eden Hazard, Willian, Juan Mata, Diego Costa, and Frank Lampard that he won trophies with – including two Premier League titles – and shared that he is constantly reminded of his time in west London in Asia.
Oscar featured for Chelsea between 2012 and 2016, and won four trophies in west London
The player said he was part of a ‘cool generation’ of Chelsea players, including Eden Hazard
‘Chelsea have an incredible crowd and the dimension of playing in the Premier League. Here in Asia, wherever I go, there are Chelsea fans.
‘I’m going to play in Japan, Korea, Australia, here in China, Chelsea fans always come to talk to me. It has a huge following in Asia and Europe,’ he finished.
The Chinese Super League season kicked off on Saturday, with Oscar named to the starting XI for Shanghai Port (formerly Shanghai SIPG).
His side started their campaign in pitch-perfect style, beating last year’s champions Wuhan Three Towns 2-0 on the road.
