Gervinho in China: 1 match, 1 goal = £345k per week

Since leaving Arsenal in 2013, Gervinho has played in Italy and now plys his trade in China.

In January 2016, the forward signed for Chinese Super League side, Hebei China Fortune F.C., after making 71 appearances for Roma over three years.

The Serie A side got a reported €18m for the Ivorian.

Since moving to China, Gervinho has had a pretty sweet life.

He’s scored four goals in 22 appearances and assisted six. It’s not all been rosy since he missed the Africa Cup of Nations this year after rupturing his left knee ligaments in October 2016.

But he gets paid well so I doubt he’s all that bothered.

The 30-year-old confirmed that he moved for money in March last year, saying, “They offered me this sum of money because of my abilities: it can be excessive for some, even for me it is.

“Earning £47,000 to play just one match is unimaginable in Europe, even at a club like Real Madrid. But here it’s the case.

“They told me ‘this sum of money if you score a goal, this other sum if you aren’t able to score’. Every target reached means one million yuans, around £120,000.

“In one match the team can play for £650,000, £700,000 or even £800,000.”

However, the S*n claim that Gervinho gets far more.

They reported that he gets £165k-per-week in wages, plus a £50k appearance fee AND a £130k goal bonus.

It seems that the latter publication has the more likely translation.

Getting that much for just one match a week is obscene but you can understand why it would be so hard to turn down.

The forward also said that the club had done everything in their power to make him more comfortable in a new country.

“The club has done everything it can to help me integrate and not just from a footballing point of view. I’m enjoying discovering Chinese life – the people have been very welcoming and Qinhuangdao is a very beautiful city,” Gervinho told FIFA.

Gervinho hasn’t been in Hebei China Fortune’s squad since their clash against Shanghai Shenhua back in July. He played just 45 minutes but there’s no information on whether this was because he came off injured or where he’s been since.

So perhaps he’s not having that great a time after all…