Tempting salary, bonuses influenced my move to Chinese league – Ideye

Former Super Eagles striker, Brown Ideye, has said the tempting salary and bonuses offered to him by Chinese club, Tianjin TEDA, contributed to his move to the Chinese Super League in 2017.

Ideye joined Tianjin TEDA after spending two seasons at Greek giants Olympiacos.

The AFCON 2013 winner, however, admitted that he never planned to join the Chinese club but was influenced by the huge money involved.

“I had no plans to go to China; Olympiacos received an offer from TEDA which they couldn’t refuse. My agent negotiated with TEDA about my salary and bonuses,” Ideye wrote on X.

“When I saw the long numbers and told my wife, na she pack my luggage for me to leave the next day LOL…”

Ideye’s comment may not be unconnected to the transfer involving reigning African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen.

Chelsea and Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli have shown interest in Osimhen, with the latter’s offer looking the most attractive.

But in an interview with The PUNCH in 2019, Ideye admitted that things did not go as expected during his time in China.

“I was ordered to train with the youth team despite not going against any laid-down rules. I don’t pray for any footballer to go through all that I experienced this past year in China. Thank God I’m back in the game, and psychologically, I have put that behind me. I need to pick up well from where I stopped, focus on my new club, and hopefully do better.

“It wasn’t easy, but I had to keep my body in good shape and stay strong mentally. It was not what I wanted; the club (Tianjin TEDA) chose that path, and I had to respect the tough call they made.

“The issue I had in China was that there is this rule that every six months, they had to reshuffle the team, and at the time I got to China, it was really difficult for me: the language, the players, not having good food.

“It took me time to really adjust to the Chinese league, and with all the expectations from the fans and the team. The management felt I wasn’t good enough or that I couldn’t meet the expectations placed on me. They ended up signing a new player in my position, and they asked me to go on loan.”