Brazilian footballer Oscar is set to snub interest in his personal development as the lure of money becomes too strong, writes WADE PRETORIUS.

The headline of this column has nothing to do with the Academy awards nor the Ballon d’Or, its football equivalent. No, it’s about Oscar’s impending move to China.

Yes China. And Shanghai SIPG to be more specific. Heard of them? Maybe but I bet you can’t name their coach or two current players.

The reason behind his move? He has slipped down the ladder at Chelsea yes but that is not the true reason. He is not going to China to rediscover his best form and work his way back to the top. No, instead he has been lured to the east by wages of anywhere between £300 000 and £400 000 a week if the British press have got it right.

Oscar clearly has no interest in improving himself as a player. At testing himself at the highest level. At cementing his place in the Brazil national team.

For Chelsea it’s a no-brainer with the Chinese Super League outfit reportedly set to pay £60m for their fringe player. Who wouldn’t take that money? That’ll go along way in the summer transfer window.

But what about for Oscar, a 25-year-old international footballer playing at the highest level? What does it say about his commitment to the cause, his ability to knuckle down and earn his place back? Maybe he could spend some time talking to current teammate Victor Moses?

Instead, the move is clearly about one thing and lots of it … money.

The game has changed and players are no longer in it for the love of the game. They are professionals doing a job and trying to earn as much as they can before they reach the age or when their abilities dwindle to a point where they are shipped off to some lower league side before fading into obscurity.

I can understand a 30-something player looking for one final pay cheque but not Oscar. It’s not like he’s earning minimum wage. Far from it. And it’s not like he’s too old or not good enough. Far from it.

He could walk into most Premier League sides. He could certainly do a job at most elite La Liga, Bundesliga and Ligue 1 sides. And he would be paid handsomely at the same time.

This, folks, is the messy side of football. Where money matters more than anything else. Where greedy agents influence their players to make career moves that could be their last.

Farewell Oscar. For you have played your last meaningful game …