THE WORLD HAS officially gone mad.

Italian striker Graziano Pelle yesterday became the latest player to head to the Chinese Super League after he signed a lucrative contract with Shandong Luneng.

There’s nothing too untoward about that with former Chelsea midfielder Ramires, Jackson Martinez and Hulk all now plying their trade in China.

But the financial muscle of the Asian clubs is scary with Shandong offering Pelle a contract worth €16 million.

Granted he had a good European Championships but the pay packets being handed out by Chinese clubs are dwarfing what every other league can offer.

The 30-year-old has now become the SIXTH highest paid player in the world, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Hulk, Neymar and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Reports in England also suggest the transfer fee is worth €15 million, with Pelle joining former Newcastle United forward Papiss Cisse at Shandong.

The club are coached by former Bayern Munich boss Felix Magath, who returned to management last month after an ill-fated spell with Fulham in 2014.

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