STARS IN ASIA - SENEGAL - Ba would relish Premier League return
Former Chelsea and Senegal striker Demba Ba discusses China, Chelsea and a possible Premier League return.
Demba Ba talks China, Chelsea & a possible Premier League return?
Former Chelsea, Newcastle and West Ham striker Demba Ba has admitted he could have returned to the Premier League last summer.
Ba who has 99 Premier League appearances and 43 goals, instead left Turkish side Besiktas for Shanghai Shenhua, joining the influx of foreign players in the Chinese Super League.
"I was very close to a return last summer and I was very close not to leave Chelsea for Besiktas (in 2014).
I have to say I miss the Premier League."
"I'm not surprised by the big money"
March sees the start of the Chinese Super League and Ba's second season at Shanghai Shenhua.
He joined after scoring 27 goals in 44 games for Besiktas, and is enjoying life on a new continent:
"I want to travel and see the world and I get the opportunity to do this while I'm playing football.
We the foreigners make this Chinese league look better, but who is going to make it look more better, the Chinese players on the pitch, the academies and the federation have to build things for the Chinese players to grow up at a young age."
Ba played alongside former Everton player Tim Cahill last season, he's since departed for another Chinese team, Hangzhou Greentown, with ex-Newcastle and Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins now arriving in Shanghai.
However it seems three moves in January really made the rest of the world take note - Liverpool target Alex Teixeira signed for Jiangsu Suning for an Asian record £38 million fee with other big money arrivals in China including Jackson Martinez from Atletico Madrid and Chelsea midfielder Ramires.
Ba says Chinese clubs have to spend excessively to compete with Europe's top clubs:
"I haven't been surprised because I've been here a couple of months and financially they have no problem buying anyone they want to buy on earth, so that's a big point.
"They want to make China one of the top leagues and it's going to take time, years and years.
I don't think as long as i'm alive, i don't think we'll see the Chinese league above the English league."
UNFINISHED BUSINESS?
"I wouldn't say it's unfinished business, I try to watch it on TV because it's the league I love the most, if one day I come back it's because I want to have fun and I want to continue to enjoy my football like all the years I did in England."
'Chinese clubs have no problem buying any player on earth'
Ba says Chinese clubs have to offer huge wages to tempt top players away from Europe
"CRITICISM OF HAZARD & CHELSEA UNFAIR"
Ex-Chelsea striker Demba Ba says it's been "difficult" seeing his ex-teammates losing.
Ba thinks his former manager Jose Mourinho is a 'very intelligent guy'.
WILL BA RETURN TO PLAY FOR SENEGAL?
Ba was born in Paris to African migrants hasn't been first choice for Senegal in recent months and was omitted from the squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015 in 2015.
"I feel African but sometimes you see the way people manage, it's difficult, the most important thing is to see my country Senegal succeed bringing a trophy to the country.
I would love to be part of it, more than I would love winning the Premier League or Champions League, is winning something with my country.
"I don't know if it's going to happen, but lately it's been much different, we just have to wait and see how it goes."
"I'd love success with Senegal, more than winning the Premier League".
Ba says he's unsure about his international future, but would like to return to the team
China
England
Senegal