Former Chelsea and Real Madrid midfielder goes to China to play

Ricardo Carvalho joined Shanghai SIPG on a free transfer after his contract with Monaco expired.

“Shanghai SIPG have completed the signing of centre-back Ricardo Carvalho,” the AFC Champions League Twitter account announced on January 9.

Carvalho is the next big name to join the wave of football stars flocking to China.

The Chinese Super League club previously attracted attention with the big-money signing of midfielder Oscar, paying Chelsea a $76 million transfer fee earlier this month. Shanghai SIPG's new coach, Andre Villas-Boas, is also a former Chelsea player.

Shanghai SIPG have not officially announced the signing of Ricardo Carvalho. But he has been training with the club for the past few days, according to coach Villas-Boas.

The 38-year-old centre-back has been a free agent since leaving Monaco in August 2016 after failing to renew his contract with the Ligue 1 club.

When asked about the information surrounding Carvalho, coach Villas-Boas told Chinese media: "I have a good relationship with Carvalho, a player who has had a great professional football career. His profile leaves me with no doubt about his class. I was also impressed by the calm attitude he showed on the first day of training with Shanghai."

Meanwhile, assistant coach Xie Hui shared on social media: "Ricardo Carvalho, it's an honor to have you in our squad."

Carvalho was a member of the Portugal team that won Euro 2016. He has won many other major titles with Porto, Chelsea and Real Madrid.

Carvalho was part of the Portugal squad that won Euro 2016. It was the latest in a long list of achievements for the centre-back, who was a favourite of Mourinho. He won three Portuguese championships and a Champions League with Porto, before moving to Chelsea, where he won three Premier League titles with the London club.

After six years at Stamford Bridge, Carvalho joined Real Madrid and won La Liga in 2011-12 before moving to Monaco in 2013.

According to VNE