Payment puzzle

Underlining its commitment to the 100 percent tax rule, after the winter transfer window opened in China on Jan 1 the CFA warned that it would not stand for any "loophole-exploiting behavior".

It also warned clubs to avoid engaging in "a bidding war", amid numerous reports that CSL champion Guangzhou Evergrande had trumped Guo'an to the $50 million acquisition of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Evergrande quickly denied it was in for the Borussia Dortmund striker, who now appears set for Premier League side Arsenal instead.

But Guo'an seem determined to snare a foreign forward.

Reports in Spain and France soon emerged saying that $50 million had been paid - it is unclear by whom - to free Bakambu from his Villarreal contract, allowing him to move to the Chinese capital on a free transfer.

Since then the CFA, the player and Guo'an have kept largely quiet, although the club - coached by German Roger Schmidt - previously told AFP that Bakambu left Villarreal "for personal reasons" and have pleaded ignorance about any deal.

Compounding the confusion, Guo'an then released photos last week of Bakambu training with the club in Portugal.

On Friday, BBC Sport quoted a source close to Bakambu as saying that Guo'an provided the funds to buy himself out of his contract at Villarreal.

Bruno Leveel, who works with Bakambu on image-related contracts, said he expected the deal to go through by the end of last weekend - but it never did.

Then on Monday, adding to the sense of farce, Bakambu played for and scored for Guo'an in a friendly against Swedish side Norrkoping.

Media muddle

Whatever happens, Ji said the saga is a lesson for all Chinese clubs.

"Chinese clubs have not yet learnt how the media - not just in China but globally - could help or affect them in these deals.

"Certainly it appears there was no PR or contingency plan at all.

"The fact that Guo'an allowed pictures of him training with the team and holding the shirt to be made public before any announcement is due either to total incompetence or they were trying to test the waters with the CFA."

Mark Dreyer, an expert on the workings of Chinese sports business, said the Bakambu case was "the first time the (CFA) tax has really been put to the test".

Dreyer, writing on his China Sports Insider website, added: "But rest assured that if this (Guo'an's) strategy doesn't work, CSL clubs will keep trying to find workable loopholes."

Agence France - presse