Recently, reports have surfaced that former Manchester United midfielder and Brazilian international Anderson has caught the eye of clubs in China. According to sources, Anderson has already instructed his agent to handle communication with Chinese teams.

However, BD Cricket Live has learned that this interest has not yet materialized into a formal transfer offer. In the current Brazilian league season, Anderson’s return to his homeland has been less than stellar. Playing for Internacional, he has enjoyed a hefty salary but managed no goals and only five assists across the season, falling short of the dazzling “midfield magician” reputation he once enjoyed. Nevertheless, reports indicate that Internacional is not eager to sell Anderson just yet, still holding out hope for the 27-year-old’s revival. His contract runs until 2018, and while there’s no immediate rush to move him, should a concrete offer come from China, it may be hard for the club to turn down. After all, sometimes in football, it’s better to cut your losses than to throw good money after bad.

Currently, Anderson is vacationing in Europe, while his agent fully manages all discussions with Chinese clubs. Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Anderson has been linked to a move to China. Just a year ago, he openly expressed to the media his willingness to play there, provided he received a “tempting enough salary.” Given Anderson’s current form, China may indeed be one of the few remaining markets willing to offer him a lucrative deal. For many Chinese football fans, Anderson is a familiar name—once heralded as the next Ronaldinho during his Manchester United days. However, his career took an unexpected turn as he transitioned into a more workmanlike midfielder, culminating in his contract termination with United earlier this year. His fall from grace has often been cited as a textbook example of wasted potential, or as the old saying goes, a “genius ruined by fast food.”

Anderson’s peak came during the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship, where he outshone future stars like Giovani dos Santos and Nuri Şahin to claim the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award. Back then, Manchester United splashed £22 million to bring him to Old Trafford. Today, Anderson’s market value is a mere tenth of what it once was, a sobering reminder that in football, as in life, not every promising start leads to a fairy-tale ending.