Shanghai Shenhua denied on Tuesday that Nicolas Anelka was contracted to play only a handful of games in the Chinese Super League.

On Monday, The Beijing News quoted a prominent TV commentator as saying Anelka (pictured), the most high-profile foreign soccer player ever to sign for a Chinese league side, might only play six matches for the team as Shenhua's boss, Zhu Jun, was more concerned about his main business of online games, which is endorsed by the French star.

The attention paid by a newspaper in Beijing - one of Shanghai's major rivals on the field - was "highly appreciated", the club said sarcastically on its official micro blog on Tuesday.

"To express our appreciation, we sincerely invite the writer of this article to watch when Anelka plays his seventh CSL game," Shenhua said.

The former Arsenal and Chelsea striker made his CSL debut amid high expectations on March 16 and although he scored, Shenhua lost 3-2 to rival Beijing Guo'an.

Earlier, the Frenchman, who became the biggest signing in the history of Chinese soccer after agreeing to a deal reported to be worth 270,000 euros ($356,300) a week with Shenhua in December, had disappointed fans after missing Shenhua's opening CSL fixture against regional rival Jiangsu Sainty due to an injury.

The loss to Beijing led Beijing Sports Channel commentator Shang Yi to compare Shenhua to a mediocre domestic car equipped with a BMW engine in an article printed in The Beijing News on Monday.

"The sole reliance on one player cannot improve a side's level," Shang said. "Anelka has always been a sharp weapon on the field, but he needs direction and others' passes to fulfill his value."

The commentator went on to question the motives of Shenhua's owner, Zhu, also the founder of Nasdaq-listed company Nine City Inc, in signing the Frenchman.

"He doesn't care about Shenhua's results," Shang wrote. "He cares more about Anelka promoting his online games and helping him make a huge profit."

However, it appears Shenhua is keen to enlist more foreign help as it aims to finish at the top of the CSL this season. The Sun reported on Tuesday that the Shanghai side wants Didier Drogba and is also making super coach Jose Mourinho an astonishing offer.

The Real Madrid boss has been promised 300,000 pounds ($476,000) a week after taxes to take over. But he is expected to snub the approach to stay in Europe, according to the British tabloid.

For Anelka, the week has been one of family as he gears up for Saturday's game against Guangzhou R&F, the current CSL leader, which has defeated last year's top two sides, Guangzhou Evergrande and Beijing Guo'an. His wife, Barbara Tausia, and youngest son arrived in Shanghai on March 17 and will cheer for the Frenchman at the Hongkou Stadium this Saturday, local media reported.

Web users uploaded photos in which Anelka, holding his son in his arms, strolled through a high-end shopping mall in Shanghai on Sunday.

wangzhenghua@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 03/21/2012 page24)