Investing in European clubs does little to improve soccer in China

CHINESE RETAIL GIANT SUNING COMMERCE GROUP acquired a 70 percent stake in the Italian soccer club Inter Milan for 270 million ($299 million) in June. However, such investments are business deals and they will do little to help improve Chinese soccer, said Guangzhou Daily on Tuesday:

According to official data, Chinese enterprises have invested about 40 billion yuan ($6 billion) in soccer clubs overseas, and now control eight of them.

The wave of Chinese capital investing in soccer clubs overseas has much to do with State policy that favors the move, and the country's industrial overcapacity which has prompted domestic enterprises to look to invest in other sectors.