China head coach Li Tie has called on the country's young footballers to go to Europe and learn the ropes of the game.
Serving as a TV pundit for the English Premier League match between Liverpool and Everton on Saturday, Li advised young Chinese players to grasp the chance to go to play in Europe.
Li Tie
"Now, Japan and South Korea can form their national teams with all Europe-based players, and we have only one player, Wu Lei, playing in Europe," the former Everton midfielder said.
Wu, 29, is now playing with Spanish second-tier club Espanyol.
"We need to encourage the young players to grasp any chance to go to play in Europe," Li said.
Li joined Everton in 2002 before moving to Sheffield United in 2006. He went back to China in 2008.