Ex-Chelsea star Oscar leaves Shanghai Port after 8 years

During the mid-2010s, the Chinese Super League captured headlines with a burst of high-profile signings to heighten its status on the world football stage. Like Ramires, Robinho, Paulinho, Hulk, Tevez and Hamsik, Oscar also decided to fly to China after being offered a lucrative contract by Shanghai Port. The Brazilian playmaker left Chelsea in January 2017 in a deal worth £60million and a reported salary of £400,000 per week.

The then 25-year-old openly stated that he intended to return to Europe within a few years to play at a “high level", but ended up being the remaining star signing in China as other players either retired or moved within a few years of joining the Chinese league. Eight years after his transfer, Oscar officially terminated his adventure at Shanghai Port.

During his time at the Chinese club, Oscar has earned around £175 million in wages, scoring 77 goals and providing 141 assists in 248 appearances for Shanghai Port. He has also helped to fill in his team's trophy cabinet by winning the Chinese Super League title in 2018, 2023 and 2024, the FA Super Cup in 2019 and the Chinese FA Cup this year.

While money was undoubtedly a significant factor in Oscar's move to Shanghai, he appears to have made a genuine connection with the club and their fans as he bid an emotional farewell in his latest match against Gwangju on Tuesday, signing off for Shanghai Port in style by netting from the spot at 76 minutes. The former Chelsea star was overcome by tears as fans chanted “Oscar stay!” at the end of the game. 

Oscar had announced his verdict earlier in September, explaining that his decision to not renew his contract was due to him wanting to return to his homeland and be closer to his family. "I love Shanghai, but it's just too far away from home for us. We can't stay here forever," he said. "My mum is getting older, my sisters are having babies. We want to be closer to home·".

The midfielder is now tipped to return to his boyhood club Internacional for the final years of his professional career, as club manager Eduardo Coudet admitted: "Our only goal, the player we are going to try moving forward, is Oscar. I want to bring in Oscar. I've already spoken to his manager, he can't stand me anymore. I want Oscar. The board asked me not to talk, but sometimes I talk too much."

 

December 4, 2024