Tianjin Quanjian owner: Rule changes scuppered Costa, Benzema moves

Tianjin Quanjian owner Shu Yuhui rues the rule change in the Chinese Super League that has further restricted the usage of foreign players, dashing hopes of signing Diego Costa.

The latest reports suggest Costa will likely leave Chelsea in the summer transfer window following controversy over an apparent spat with the club's medical staff amid interest from China. However, from March, the number of foreign players a Super League team is allowed to field at one time will be reduced, meaning a move there - or to Tianjin, at least - is off the table.

Shu's apparent efforts to sign Paris Saint-Germain's in-form forward Edinson Cavani, Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, AS Monaco's Radamel Falcao, and Benfica's Raul Jimenez have also fallen by the wayside.

"Our club had a massive investment plan for the new season but it was tightened up by the new rules," Shu told Tianjin Sports Channel, with translation from ESPN FC's Michael Church.

"I made an appointment with (agent Jorge) Mendes and he came to my hometown to visit me. At that time, we were interested in signing Costa."

The new rule, imposed by the Chinese Football Association to curb "irrational investment," follows in the wake of Oscar's £60-million switch from Chelsea to Shanghai SIPG and various other deals that have tempted leading internationals from Europe to Asia for vast sums.

At Tianjin Quanjian, a newly promoted outfit managed by World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro, signing Costa or another overseas player would've necessitated difficult juggling of personnel between Brazilians Jadson and Geuvanio, Belgian Axel Witsel, and South Korean defender Kyung-Won Kwon.

(Courtesy: @MailSport)

"We need an out-and-out striker so we made a bid for Benzema. We also made an attempt for Falcao," Shu said. "As a matter of fact, the club had even prepared the contracts for Falcao and Raul Jimenez, but the new rules forced us to give up on them."

For some deals, the opportunity to complete a transfer would've come not before the league's kickoff in March, but when European divisions conclude their campaigns in the summer.

"PSG told us Cavani would only be allowed to leave in June, even though the player himself was willing to join us," Shu explained. "The same can be said for Costa because Chelsea will also only let him leave in June."

He added, in quotes picked up by Sky Sports' Patrick Surlis: "We couldn't afford to wait half a season. We continue to wait and suffer, but at the end of the day, we'll get someone."