Anelka 'will have to be Roy of the Rovers every week in China'

Nicolas Anelka has been warned Chinese clubs expect a “Roy of the Rovers performance” every week from their foreign stars.

The well-travelled Frenchman will become the biggest signing in the world’s most populated country after agreeing a two-year deal worth £8million-a-season with Shanghai Shenhua.

Marlon Harewood, who scored six goals in 13 games to help his club Guangzhou R&F to promotion to the top flight for next season, has warned Anelka that the Chinese Super League is not a gentle retirement home.

Former Villa and West Ham forward Harewood, who is negotiating a new contract for next season, said: “I really enjoyed the experience out there. The standard of football was surprisingly good and it was really professional.

“But it is different and they expect a lot from you and your lifestyle. When I was there, we lived in a training camp 24-7 and trained twice a day. It is by no means an easy option or a place to retire.

"There are massive expectations, especially on the foreign players. They expect a Roy of the Rovers performance every week.”

Harewood's agent, Phil Sproson, agreed: “Chinese clubs are demanding - I had Guangzhou on to me when Marlon hadn’t scored in a couple of games to ask what the problem was!

“But I think, as we have seen with Anelka, Marlon will be the first of many Premier League players to go out there as the Chinese Super League expands further, because our football is so popular.”

After nearly four years under Roman Abramovich, Anelka will now play for a chairman, Zhu Jun, who ordered his then-coach to to play him against Liverpool in a pre-season friendly in August 2007.

But former Arsenal, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester City and Bolton forward Anelka will be well paid.

Zhu Jun said: “People are aware of Anelka’s Chelsea yearly salary, which is around 5.8m euros (£5m). So when he comes to China it definitely won’t be below this figure.”

Anelka retired from international football last year, shortly before receiving an 18-match ban for a dressing-room row with France coach Raymond Domenech at the World Cup.

But Zhu added: “The benefits Anelka brings to the club are obvious. Firstly it will definitely increase the squad’s attacking capability.

“Secondly, the arrival of such a high level football star like Anelka in a young club like Shenhua will increase the hopes of the young people and create an example for them to follow.

“It will definitely increase the club’s competitiveness.”

Shenhua captain Yu Tao tweeted: “It’s impossible not to be excited by this - a warm welcome to our new team-mate!”

Goalkeeper Wang Dalei added: “Tell Anelka he made his new team-mates really proud!”

Former Leeds boss Howard Wilkinson, who was manager of Shenhua in 2004 said: “The Chinese players are a joy to work with - very enthusiastic, they want to learn and want to work.”

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YOUR BLUFFER'S GUIDE TO THE CLUBS PLAYING CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER 2001

Anzhi Makhachkala
Where: Dagestan, Russia
Owner: Suleyman Kerimov
Big signings: Samuel Eto’o, Yuri Zhirkov

Billionaire Kerimov bought the club in January with the aim of turning them into Champions League contenders.

He bought Roberto Carlos (38) in February, and the Brazilian is now a player-coach.

In the summer window, Anzhi bought Zhirkov, 28, from Chelsea and tempted Eto’o to leave Inter Milan by making him the highest paid player in the world with three-year-contract worth £345,000 a week. More huge signings are planned, with Didier Drogba (33) and Ronaldinho (31) on the wish-list.

Because of the troubled political climate in the region - Dagestan borders Chechnya - the players live and train near Moscow and fly in for home games.

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Paris Saint-Germain
Where: Paris, France
Owner: 70 per cent owned by Qatar Investment Authority
Big signings: Javier Pastore

The Qatari group, an investment arm of the Qatari government, have revolutionised the French league with their massive investment.

They immediately broke the French transfer record by paying Euro 50m (£42m) for 22-year-old Argentine playmaker Javier Pastore. And the club claims a deal to sign David Beckham (36) on an 18-month £150,000-a-week deal starting in January is “95 per cent done”.

The spending will not stop there with PSG interested in signing Carlos Tevez (27), Kolo Toure (30) and Salomon Kalou (26) in the January transfer window.

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Shanghai Shenhua
Where: China
Owner: Jun Zhu
Biggest signing: Nicolas Anelka

Former Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid star Anelka becomes the most famous player to ever sign for a Chinese Super League club on £175,000 a week.

The team in the economic capital of China finished only 11th this season - prompting colourful owner Zhu Jun to promise a spending spree before the next campaign begins in March.

Former Fulham coach Jean Tigana is being lined up as the new coach.

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Al Ain
Where: UAE Pro-League
Owner: Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Big signing: Asamoah Gyan

Owned by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain have won the UAE league title 14 times and is the only club from the Emirates to win the Asian version of the Champions League in 2003

Walter Zenga and former Pompey coach Alain Perrin have managed the club where Adebe Pele finished his career in 2000.

Gyan, 26, became their highest profile signing when he joined on a year-long loan from Sunderland, who received a £6m fee, in September. The player is being handed a weekly wage of £200,000.

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Malaga
Where: Spain
Owner: Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nassar Al-Thani
Big signing: Ruud van Nistelrooy

The Costa Del Sol club was bought by billionaire Sheikh Abdulla, a member of the Qatari royal family, for £32million in June last year.

Former Real Madrid manager Manuel Pellegrini saved the club from relegation last season.

Former Arsenal midfielder Julio Baptista (30) was signed in January and ex-Manchester United favourite Van Nistelrooy, now 35, returned to Spain in the summer on a one-year deal worth £77,000 a week.