Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan admits the Chinese League is lacking publicity despite its high quality and intensity.
The former Sunderland man has been subtly criticized for his decision to move to a perceived substandard league to join Shanghai SIPG.
Gyan played in the UAE for Al Ain for the past four years before moving on to China where his reported $350,000 weekly wages make him one of the top earners in world football.
But the 29-year-old feels the Chinese League is not getting the recognition it deserves as compared to some of the well followed competitions in Europe.
“The performance is high. As I said earlier nothing is easy,†he said.
“Although it is not that recognized as the English Premiership or the Italian league or the Spanish league, the Chinese Super League is also improving.
“Because it is not hyped like Premiership people don’t see. That is how people think the level is.
“But for me since I got in, I can see great qualities and I am very happy to be here.â€