Bengaluru, March 2: Belgium star attacker Yannick Carrasco has claimed that he still confident about earning a call-up to the national team for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Russia despite switching from Europe to play in the Chinese Super League.
The winger was behind the pecking order in Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid this season and despite appearing 25 times, the player only completed three matches for Madrid, contributing four goals and five assists.
And with the World Cup looming, the player looked elsewhere for more game time in order to impress his bosses at the Belgian national team.
The player was earlier linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium in the January transfer window. Even Italian giants Juventus were reportedly monitoring the player.
However, the 24-year-old surprised everyone last month by opting to join Chinese side Dalian Yifang, along with his Atletico Madrid teammate Nicolas Gaitan for a combined fee reportedly worth €48 million.
The Belgian, who has made 22 appearances and scored five goals for Belgium, has suggested that he is still confident of featuring at the upcoming World Cup and believes his move away from Atletico Madrid will not affect his chances of making the squad.
So Yannick Carrasco has moved to China, aged 24. Just two seasons ago he scored for Atletico in the Champions League final. Looked like one of the best rising talents in Europe at the time. Such a waste.
— Joel Rabinowitz (@joel_archie) February 26, 2018
"My distance from the continent of Europe does not mean my ambition to participate in the World Cup is less," Carrasco said. "I will make the necessary effort to show to the Belgium national coach that I am ready to take part in the World Cup in Russia this summer with the Red Devils," he said.
The former Monaco winger reportedly was attracted by a chance to gain more than double his salary to €10m a year after tax to join the Chinese side, who also signed West Ham defender Jose Fonte.
However, Carrasco said that the booming footballing scene and close links between Wanda, Dalian Yifang's new backers, and Atletico are the reasons behind his move.
A new adventure begins for me at club Dalian Yifang : new encounters, new challenges, new projects.
— Yannick Carrasco (@CarrascoY21) February 27, 2018
Thank you all for these wonderful years at the Atlético Club of Madrid! ⚽️#THANKYOU #SOMUCH #NewBegining pic.twitter.com/8bPF4nKazB
"The Chinese championship is booming, the working conditions are excellent, the new infrastructures are modern and they are available for both players and fans," Carrasco said. "The level of play improves every season.
"I am very happy and eager to join my new teammates at Dalian Yifang in the coming days. The project and offer of the club are a great sign of confidence and respect, and represent an opportunity to develop my qualities and my future."
Welcome to China @CarrascoY21 🇧🇪🇨🇳✊🏽 & @nicogaitan 👏🏽👏🏽
— Axel Witsel (@axelwitsel28) February 26, 2018
Bienvenue en Chine! 👌🏽👌🏽 pic.twitter.com/wzhAWaK89j
Carrasco played three seasons for Atletico in which he scored 23 times in 123 matches.
Carrasco now joins the likes of Hulk, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Fabio Capello and Axel Witsel in China and is expected to make his debut this weekend against Chinese giants Shanghai SIPG.