One of China's biggest clubs is planning for the long term with huge infrastructure in place in its youth sector to supplement its big name signings
He is the man who was in ahead of the boom.
Shanghai SIPG technical director Mads Davidsen moved to China in 2012 to run former Denmark striker Ebbe Sand’s football academy. Since then he has had a front-row seat for China’s progression from being a relative sideshow to one of the most compelling leagues in world football.
“Something has happened in the last three or four years,” he tells Goal.