Guangzhou Evergrande has five South American players - Conca, Brazil's Gabriel Cleo, Luiz Muriqui and Paulo Marcos and the recently signed Lucas Barrios from Paraguay, a former striker with Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund.

Conca said he had played an important role in the club's move to hire the Paraguayan international.

"Before he came, I told him a lot about China - the city and the team. I wanted him to know more about how soccer is developing in China. And I think it may have helped him make the decision to play in China," he said.

Conca, who now lives with his wife and son in Guangzhou, the capital city of South China's Guangdong province, believes that Barrios' arrival is positive.

About the broadcaster:

Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.

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