Which average are you referring to exactly when you state that the Brazilian league, on average, is not the highest paying league (in terms of annual salaries) for foreign players in South America? Mean, median or mode averages? I can also not find any relevant or up-to-date statistics. I have found these two sources: http://deadspin.com/chart-the-average-player-salaries-in-soccer-leagues-ar-1658856283 The above source does not offer the details or factors that you have considered. However, in general terms and relating to average annual salaries for professional players, the Brazilian top tier league was 7th in the world late in 2014, with an average annual salary of £583,333. It was ranked 1st in South America by a considerable margin (Argentina was ranked 14th, Colombia 23rd, & Chile 31st). Mexico's top tier league was ranked 10th in the world at this time, with an average annual salary of £265,625. 2014 was not so long ago. If what you're saying is accurate, that Chilean clubs pay (or over-pay) foreign players more than what Brazilian clubs pay in this regard, then the salaries paid by Chilean clubs on average to foreign players is disproportionate. http://www.elcolombiano.com/deporte...rio-promedio-del-futbol-en-colombia-HY2742339 The source above is from 2015. Like the one before, it does not consider the factors that you have raised in detail. It looks at the average monthly earnings of professional footballers in top tier leagues globally. Brazil was again highest in South America (and Americas) in 2015 here, with the average monthly pay being £50,000, compared to Argentina (13th; £17,000), Colombia (22nd; £11,000) and Chile (30th; £5,000). Mexico is 9th on the list (£23,000). I gather that, if what you're saying is true, then Mexico and Chile (as you say) are the China of Latin America, in relation to how foreign players earn compared to the rest of the locals.
Yes, but I didn't include Sagal as he had only signed for Pachuca in the lead-up to the Confederations Cup.
What is Gignac's salary? Brazil has gotten European players and players from outside of the continent like Seedorf, Petkovic, Baumjohann, etc.I can't imagine Gignac is making much more than the top players in Brazil at the moment. For the most part, those "different" nationalities are Spanish speaking nationalities. It would make sense for them to go there since they know the language and they will get paid just as well as they would in Brazil. Only 10 different teams at most? Why doesn't a Chilean side go grab Mena as he bounced around several Brazilian teams? I don't see many Chileans teams, maybe other than Colo Colo, being able to pay what Sport Recife is for Mena. And they also have other expensive players on their roster -- Diego Souza and Andre. The number is probably closer to 15. I don't think Mexico is clearly the most lucrative, or it would attract even some better Brazilian players. Another reason why Brazilian clubs didn't sign as many foreigners is that they had limits in place on how many foreigners they could field at a time. That limit used to be 3. It has since gone up. Sao Paulo just recently fielded 5 foreign players in their starting 11 for the first time in club history. More foreigners are choosing to go to Brazil now. Our clubs have been signing a lot more Colombian and Ecuadorian players as of late.
Main problem in those stats, is that the averages considered come from all players whom play in those leagues, which of course also includes local players. And if you are going to consider local players as well, let me remind you that many of them are national team level players, or players whom would be starters almost everywhere round the world, given brazilean players level playing at pro level. The truth is that foreign players that usually play for the brazilian league, are above average players, as average players from elsewhere, hardly ever get considered for playing there. Of course this makes it very difficult to calculate the amounts average foreign players get paid there, as in many cases, they are bench players whom hardly ever get to play, so no one really knows much of them. It's no mistery why so many average brazilian players seek for job opportunities elsewhere from Brazil, as for them to make a better living than the one they will have in Brazil, comes with the sacrifice of leaving their country, as in it they will be "almost no ones" with not so much to offer diferent to the rest of players there, while at other less gifted countries, they may even get considered as top players, to the point that many of them after some years, finish playing for other National Teams. Same goes for that colombian source, where as they recognize had bad they usually pay all players there, forces them to leave for other countries at almost the first option they get. An issue average players in Chile don't have to deal with, as staying here, is about the best many of them can get. Something pretty similar happens in Mexico. To certain extent, that's correct. And to both countries, the worst part from it, is that many of the foreign players whom actually come to our countries, are not much diferent than the local players, taking jobs from local players and earning bigger amounts of money as well. Instead of helping our own players to develop, we are helping more in the development of players from other countries.
that's preciselly what I'm talking about here. For any foreign player, to play in Brazil, they must play above the average brazilian player's level, which is lots higher than the average player's level from other countries. All those players you mentioned (except Cignac), given their level, can play almost anywhere they want, including most of the top european teams as well. Cignac plays in Mexico, basicly because in his own France they will not pay him the same. Partially true, on regards to wages. The one thing that will never be the same, is that going to Mexico, they will be playing most of the time, while going to Brazil, they'll have to really struggle to even make the bench, and for lots them, playing, may never happen through the whole year. Not something most players really want (reasons why after one or a few years they go back to their own countries). Nope, in Brazil, they aren't more than 10 teams above other top teams from South America. But apart from those 10, there could perfectly be other 10 teams at about the same level of other top teams from South America (in Chile's case, there are only 3 teams at this level, maybe just 2) For the case of Mena, which you mentioned, he certainly would be a top player here, but no one will want to pay him what he wants to be paid, as there are lots of other players (from other countries, as well) at about his same level, who will play for lots less than him. Together with having a strong level, the brazilian league over rates many of their local players, making them be more expenssive than other players, from other countries at their same level. That's basicly the reason why not many of them, actually go to Mexico (as how it was in the past). At Mexico, they have learned that they can get equally talented players, from the less gifted countries, at half their price. . . That raise in the amount of foreigners allowed in their teams, will be the doom for Brazil. As by doing so, clubs will become more business enterprises, and instead of making investments in younger local blood, they will seek for finished cheaper players from elsewhere, at lots lower costs. But, it's the business way, and probably the way that at the begining gives the fastest revenues to businessmen. Unfortunately at the longer term, as how we've experienced here in Chile, the same as in other countries who have also done the same before, will see less younger local players, actually making it to the clubs. Bad news for your future National team, but very good one for the rest of us.....
http://www.latercera.com/el-deportivo/noticia/sube-baja-martin-rodriguez-mexico/167272/ El Tin ROdriguez, al parecer no va a seguir en el Cruz Azul