Ex-Chelsea midfielder Oscar has been raking in the cash since his unexpected departure from the Premier League back in January 2017. The Brazilian ace had a fruitful four-and-a-half-year stint at Stamford Bridge, where he won several major honours.
During his first season with the Blues, Oscar was part of the Chelsea side that triumphed in the Europa League under Rafa Benitez. Two years later, the return of Jose Mourinho saw him add the League Cup and Premier League to his trophy cabinet. However, with Antonio Conte limiting his game time in 2016, Oscar made a surprising career move.
The attacking maestro became the star signing for Shanghai Port during a period when high-profile players were being lured to the Chinese Super League with lucrative offers. He remains one of the few big names in the league, recently netting a hat-trick in a 4-1 victory over Cangzhou Mighty Lions.
In a similar vein to the Saudi Pro League’s recent efforts to attract top talent, Oscar was joined in China by ex-Chelsea stars Ricardo Carvalho, Ramires and Jon Obi Mikel, as well as fellow Brazilian Hulk. Many followed Oscar’s lead, with Yannick Carrasco and Javier Mascherano among those who joined the Chinese league for the 2018 season.
However, the influx of foreign stars was short-lived due to a rule change in 2019 that put a stop to the extravagant wages previously on offer. Fortunately for Oscar, he had just signed a five-year extension, reportedly pocketing £20m per year, before the drastic changes took effect.
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The Daily Mail reports that Oscar is raking in a staggering £400k per week. With seven full seasons under his belt and nearly halfway through 2024, the Brazilian international has amassed a colossal £154m in wages at Shanghai Port.
“All football players want to earn money to help their families,” Oscar explained to Copa90 back in 2017. “When I made the decision to come [to China], I was thinking more of my family than of my career.”
Oscar’s switch to China may have put a damper on his international hopes as he has not played for Brazil since 2015. Despite this, Oscar has remained loyal to Shanghai Port, though his amount of silverware has been relatively modest. He won the Chinese Super League for only the second time last season, having previously lifted the trophy in 2018.
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