How long is too long to rest up before returning to football? Six months? A year? Seven years?
Christian Vieri hasn’t played a minute since quitting the game back in 2009, after his third spell with Serie A outfit Atalanta.
But the former Italy international could be poised for the most unlikely of returns after announcing plans to play in China.
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The Chinese Super League has attracted some unlikely names with its promise of high wages, with the likes of Ramires, Paulinho and Graziano Pelle all heading east after spells in the Premier League.
It’s not clear whether Vieri is targeting the top-flight or the second tier, where Brazil international Luis Fabiano and former West Ham striker Nikica Jelavic are among the bigger names.
Now 43 years of age, Vieri seems to be keeping in shape, but few will have expected him to make his return after so long away from the game.
Back in 1999 he became the world’s most expensive player when he signed for Internazionale for around £32m, and played with the likes of Antonio Conte, Didier Deschamps and (original) Ronaldo during his time in Serie A.
To put things into context, Alex Teixeira, one of the biggest names to move from Europe to China in the last 12 months, was less than two years old when Vieri made his bow in Italy’s top division.
We can’t wait to see him back in action.
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