By Alan Duffy

"You see this smile on my face? It's only for the cameras, ok? I genuinely despise you"

Currently doing a spot of pre-season training in Spain with new club Shanghai Shenhua, Le Sulk, Nicolas Anelka, has described the hell he had to endure during his final days at Chelsea.

I wondered being honest, how long it would take until we heard from either Nico Anelka or Alex after their departures from Chelsea back in last month's transfer window and it hasn't taken long.
The Sun over here in the UK leads with an interview Anelka has given about the end of his Chelsea career and claims he was left to rot with the reserves.

Former Liverpool striker Nicolas Anelka left Chelsea for Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua in January, and for a brief period prior to signing, the Frenchman was dubiously linked with an improbable return to Anfield. Anelka could've also joined Carlo Ancelotti at Paris St Germain, but as he now reveals, the move held no interest for him.

By Alan Duffy

In the past 12 months or so, the global nature of football has become all the more apparent, as the UAE, India and China have suddenly become legitimate destinations for some of the game's bigger (and mostly older) stars.

To anyone who follows the beautiful game, Anelka's move to Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua did not make sense. What is even more interesting is Anelka's recent revelation that he snubbed PSG and a chance to re-unite with former coach Carlo Ancelotti for a little known Chinnese team.

There will be some very tense nerves in West London this weekend ahead of Chelsea's super clash with rivals Manchester United at Stamford Bridge this Sunday. A couple of years back, this would have been just another day in the office for the Blues, however, things have changed drastically.

In fact, things are so bad for the Blues that a 3rd place finish for them would be amazing.

All January 2012 English Premier League Transfers - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

You'll find the latest Premier League Transfers (January 2012) listed here. Archives for older transfer seasons are at the end of this page. For the latest transfer rumours and confirmed transfers for other leagues, see our football transfer lists page.

Brazil's Internacional fans know what they're talking about when they mention D'Alessandro, their talented playmaker once hailed as 'the next Maradona'. Unfortunately, Shanghai Shenhua are coming in quick for him... so there isn't much time, chicas! / Photo via Gettyimages

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by Andrew Crawford

Having even the remotest interest in Shanghai Shenhua should probably come with a health warning. When I die a decade prematurely, blame it on the side from the Hongkou stadium for weakening my heart and badly damaging my sanity. Shenhua is a dangerous interest to have. Believe me, its lots of fun but if you can, enjoy it in moderation.

The buzz is Didier Drogba will be joining his Chelsea compatriot Nicholas Anelka in the Chinese Super League this summer for a whopping £270,000 a week. That kind of money for three years will amount to a nice retirement nest egg. Drogba has become an after thought with Roman Abramovich rooting for Fernando Torres to succeed so he can justify spending an £50m giveaway, the largest in sporting history.

It seems in recent days that speculation surrounding the future of Didier Drogba has intensified as the same club who have signed Nicolas Anelka this month, have Didier Drogba in their sights too!.
Shanghai Shenhua signed Anelka on a reported £200,000 per week and if reports are to be believed, Didier Drogba could follow the Frenchman on even more money!

Nicolas Anelka is swimming in dough on the shores of Shanghai. Will Didier Drogba be joining him before the end of the January transfer window?

Quite possibly, if you ask the Shenhua PR department.

Chinese connection?

As you know, Drogba has rejected a one-year contract extension from Chelsea in search of at least a two-year deal.

It's no wonder why Pepe is nicknamed "The Butcher."

The Real Madrid defender, who is either known for physical play or malicious attacks on his opponents depending on who you talk to, could face disciplinary action for deliberately stomping on Lionel Messi's hand during yesterday's Clasico.

By Andrew Crawford, writing from Shanghai

Despite the city starting to slow down for the Chinese New Year, Shanghai Shenhua's PR machine remains as busy as ever. The club's website is more brightly coloured than usual and images of the new manager, Jean Tigana, and his star player, Nicolas Anelka, flicker across the screen whilst behind them, four silhouetted figures stand in the background.

By Chris Wright

In no particular order, Pies' ten-strong run down of the rumoured January deals we'd absolutely love to see come to fruition for one reason or another...

1. Didier Drogba (Chelsea) to Shanghai Shenhua...

Word is that there are several Chinese clubs queuing up to throw upwards of £400,000-a-week at The Drog in order to coerce him into semi-retirement.

2012: Rise of the Chinese Football Empire? is a post from: Just Football

Following the arrival of Nicolas Anelka and Jean Tigana at Shanghai Shenhua, the Chinese Super League (CSL) has received more attention in a month than it has previously done in almost a decade.

The CSL itself is coming up to its ninth year as China's top league since it superseded the Jia-A League in 2003.

2012: Rise of the Chinese Football Empire? is a post from: Just Football

Following the arrival of Nicolas Anelka and Jean Tigana at Shanghai Shenhua, the Chinese Super League (CSL) has received more attention in a month than it has previously done in almost a decade.

The CSL itself is coming up to its ninth year as China's top league since it superseded the Jia-A League in 2003.

By Andrew Crawford, writing from Shanghai. Andrew has written for The Independent and When Saturday Comes, while also maintaining Wild East Football the only English site covering Chinese football, and he'll be featuring "Letters from Shanghai" on AFR to help track the growth of the league, as well as the stars playing there.

By Andrew Crawford, writing from Shanghai. Andrew has written for The Independent and When Saturday Comes, while also maintaining Wild East Football the only English site covering Chinese football, and he'll be featuring "Letters from Shanghai" on AFR to help track the growth of the league, as well as the stars playing there.

NICOLAS Anelka's departure from Chelsea to Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua got me thinking: how far the game has evolved in the world's most populous Country?

Ever since the formation of China's top flight division in 1994 and its subsequent re-branding 10 years later (From the Jia-A League to the Chinese Super League), the far-east nation has pumped vast sums of money into its Football Association and the results of this are now beginning to show.

NICOLAS Anelka's departure from Chelsea to Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua got me thinking: how far the game has evolved in the world's most populous Country?

Ever since the formation of China's top flight division in 1994 and its subsequent re-branding 10 years later (From the Jia-A League to the Chinese Super League), the far-east nation has pumped vast sums of money into its Football Association and the results of this are now beginning to show.

Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou's imminent January departure for the African Cup of Nations, along with the sale of Nicolas Anelka to Chinese Super League Club Shanghai Shenhua has left manager André Villas-Boas facing a possibly head-scratching dilemma.

The loss of these three household names could force goal-shy Fernando Torres back in to the equation at Stamford Bridge, a move which some would consider a risk.

Nicolas Anelka

The former French international signed with Shanghai Shenhua, of the Chinese Super League, this week. Anelka's two year contract with Shenua will pay the 32-year-old 175,000-euros-a-week, which is nearly $12 million-a-year. The Montreal Impact attempted to negotiate a contact with Anelka to bring the striker to MLS, but the two sides could not reach an agreement on a salary that made the offer competitive with Shenhua's deal.

Lets face it, Nicholas Anelka's move to Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua is all about money. The Chinese club are officially revealed that they have signed the striker on a 2 year deal that will see him earn £200,000 every week.

For a player loaded with talent, it is sad to see him end his career in a largely unknown league.

Chelsea have finally confirmed the status of their veteran French bomber, Nicolas Anelka, after revealing at the club's official site that they have agreed in selling the striker to Chinese outfit, Shanghai Shenhua.

Despite confirming Anelka's departure in the upcoming January transfer window, the Blues apparently didn't revealed any more financial details which both clubs being agreed upon, although rumors claimed that Shanghai is offering wages around 175,000 a week for Anelka.

Story featured today in The Sun
It's been confirmed that Nicolas Anelka has signed for Shanghei Shenhua on a reported £6m a year contract for two years. The club released an official statement on the Chelsea website here saying:

Chelsea Football Club and Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua have agreed terms for the permanent transfer of Nicolas Anelka in the January transfer window.

I'd say this makes Nicolas Anelka's move to the People's Republic pretty damn official, eh?

Sweet robot

Read more about the deal via the Shenhua official website.

The club says Anelka has agreed to a two-year deal with the Blue Devils. Rumor is he'll be on something like £200-plus thousand per week over there ridiculous, but an impressive pull.

It looks like our continued overhaul may get started a little early. A host of outlets, including BBC Sport, are reporting that Nicolas Anelka could agree a move to Shanghai Shenhua within the next week.

A sight not to be seen again

As you are well aware, Anelka will not be hanging around Cobham for much longer.

It looks like our continued overhaul may get started a little early. A host of outlets, including BBC Sport, are reporting that Nicolas Anelka could agree a move to Shanghai Shenhua within the next week.

A sight not to be seen again

As you are well aware, Anelka will not be hanging around Cobham for much longer.

French news outlet L'Equipe is reporting that the Philadelphia Union are among a group of teams that is competing to sign current Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka to a contract in the January international transfer window.

Philadelphia Daily news, and Philly.com, Union beat reporter Kerith Gabriel stated over Twitter that a team source confirmed that the Union had interest in Anelka, but that the striker's other offers on the table would be tough to match.

Shanghai Shenhua is a Chinese Super League soccer club from Shanghai, China. The club is a perennial title contender on the Chinese domestic scene with runner-up finishes in the 2005, 2006, 2008 Super League seasons and a 3rd place finish last season. Over the years Shangai Shenhua has featured former Germany and Bayern Munich striker Carsten Jancker, [.

Shanghai Shenhua is a Chinese Super League soccer club from Shanghai, China. The club is a perennial title contender on the Chinese domestic scene with runner-up finishes in the 2005, 2006, 2008 Super League seasons and a 3rd place finish last season. Over the years Shangai Shenhua has featured former Germany and Bayern Munich striker Carsten Jancker, [.