Brazilian forward Cleo on Wednesday signed a four-year contract with Chinese football club Guangzhou Evergrande Football Club, with a transfer fee of 3,200,000 euros, a new record in China's football league history.
The 25-year-old striker was unveiled by club coach and officials.
Cleo scored 10 goals in 12 matches in the European Champions League, helping Serbia's Partizan qualify for the group stage. But the transfer stops his endeavor in the top competition among clubs.
"No chance for playing in the European champions league? No problem! AFC Champions League is as competitive as European Champions League. I am embracing the new challenges," said Cleo.
Cleo scored two goals in two matches against English Premier League giant Arsenal, making him attractive to some top clubs in the Premier league, LFP and Lega Calcio. England media even reported that Cleo's performance had motivated Livepool's manager to offer a price for him.
But the Chinese club won the tag of war for the Brazilian.
"It is the hardest talk that I have been experienced," Evergrande F.C. president Liu Yongzhuo said. "But it is a valuable experience for Chinese football clubs' effort to bring in world-class players."
Evergrande, a Chinese real property enterprise, showed its ambition in Football after taking charge of the club in 2010. A series of bold actions followed including commercialization and management system reform. The addition of another Brazilian player Muriqui costed the club 350 USD in 2010.
