Arsene Wenger Feels India Are The Next Football Powerhouse

Jan 20, 2017 at 4:32 PM

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Arsene Wenger Feels India Are The Next Football Powerhouse

At a time when the European clubs are facing a huge task of keeping the cash-rich Chinese Super League clubs away from luring their players to the far east, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has claimed that India are set to challenge European football’s dominance sooner than later.

The Chinese clubs have created utter turmoil in the European Leagues by offering mind-bogging wages and several top players like Oscar, Ezequiel Lavezzi have left the top clubs for a league which is still trying to find its feet in the game. And Wenger feels that India are not very far behind in the race to battle China as one of the most promising emerging countries in the game.

India have already taken a step forward in that direction by launching the Indian Super League where the likes of Luis Garcia, John Arne Riise, Diego Forlan, Florent Malouda and Aaron Hughes have plied their trade.

At the same time, Wenger also urged the emerging countries to have patience as it will take years before they become a force to reckon with in the game.

He said: “It demands years of culture and work. You do not create a top league just like that, but personally I am very happy and I expect India to come to the game, and hope it will happen.

“But when you want to be a player your first aspiration is to play in the best league, against the best players. After that, when you are a professional you want to combine the fact you can play in the best league, against the best players, for the maximum amount of money.

“That combination is the best in England at the moment, so I don’t see why the players should leave the Premier League.

“But China has moved forward, tries to promote football and I’m happy that football is becoming very popular in China. But I still think most of the big players will stay in Europe at the moment.”

“Professional football was created in England 150 years ago and we still struggle. It’s a slow process of creating a football culture. In China it’s new.
“When I went to Japan it was 1995 and their professional league had been created in 1993. You expect reflexes that are not there because players don’t have the culture of professional football. It will take time,” he added/

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