MADRID, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Football will continue to grow as a major sport in China according to an expert interviewed by Xinhua at the World Football Summit (WFS) which is currently being held in the Spanish capital of Madrid.
The WFS aims to look at the business of football and how it will develop over the next decade and according to Nico Gomez, China will play an increasingly important role in the world game.
"In recent years China has become one of the key markets in the world in questions of signings. A lot of European footballers in the closing years of their career have gone to China," said Gomez.
However, he explained that trend is changing as a younger generation of footballers, such as former Chelsea duo, Oscar and Ramires and Belgium international Yannick Carrasco turn their eyes to China.
"There are other younger players who have not just gone for economic reasons and Chinese football is growing," he added, explaining that the Chinese Super League is showing its power to attract supporters.
Gomez said the WFS was a "spectacular event, which is celebrated at a world level and those who work in the game enjoy the chance to make contacts and learn from the other people who are here."
The WFS also counts on the presence of Javier Tebas, the President of Spain's La Liga, and Manchester United midfielder, the man behind the "Common Goal" project which seeks to encourage professional footballers to donate one percent of their salaries to aid beneficial causes.
"Commerce and football go hand in hand these days. They are connected to marketing, business, communication, social media. New technology is growing a lot on a European and World level," concluded Gomez.
