Antonio Conte said on Friday that ambitious players should always put passion before money as Chelsea’s manager spoke about Oscar’s exit from the Premier League for a payday in China.
The Italian coach described the Chinese Super League as a ‘danger’ to football after it was revealed that Shanghai SIPG had prised Oscar from Chelsea for £52million.
Speaking about the mega-money move, Conte used words such as ‘passion’, ‘ambition’ and ‘honour’ as he said Oscar was leaving behind the world’s best league in England.
Conte also confirmed Eden Hazard will be back to face Crystal Palace on Saturday — but China and Oscar were the central topics at his pre-match press conference.
‘The most important thing for us must be the passion,’ said Conte. ‘The passion for football. If you have not got that, it is no good. No good.
‘I repeat: this concept is very important. Before the money must be the passion, the passion for the sport, for football.
‘We started to play when we were children without money and only for the passion. Then came money but the passion is more important than money for me. The Premier League is a great opportunity for players and for coaches, to fight for the title against fantastic players and coaches.
‘England is the best in the world if you have ambition to test yourself against the other teams. To play in this league is a great opportunity, an honour.
‘You must be very proud to play in this league because now it is the best in the world.
‘Oscar is a really good player. I was very proud to have him in my squad and have him as my player. If you ask me, “Are you sorry?” then yes, I am sorry.
‘I am sorry because he is leaving as a really good player and a really good man. I must be honest about this.’
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