Chelsea winger Willian has suggested the reason compatriot Oscar is leaving for China is because the 'career of a player is a race' and he wanted to take that opportunity.
It has been confirmed that the 25-year-old will make the move to Chinese Super League sideShanghai SIPG under former Blues bossAndre Villas Boas for £52m in the January transfer window, earning £400k-a-week.
The Brazilian international has found it difficult to adapt to new manager Antonio Conte's formation and style of play this season, making just eight appearances at the start of the campaign, mostly from the bench, with his future a much talked-about topic at the club.
And despite receiving huge criticism from pundits for the move, such as Jamie Carragher according to theMirror, Oscar's Brazilian pal Willian has supported the move, viaESPN, suggesting a player's career ends quickly and a move like this is hard to turn down.
[Oscar] has already said goodbye," said Willian.
Chelsea are plotting a £75m bid for Real Madrid star James RodrÃguez as a replacement for China-bound Oscar. (Source: Sunday Mirror) pic.twitter.com/1sogOUGCy7
"He is a good friend who goes away, but we wish the best for him and his family as well.
We know that the career of a player is a race, it ends quickly. So when that opportunity comes, we think about our family and make our footing stop when it stops, stop well."
Oscar made over 200 appearances for the west London club, scoring just 38 appearances having joined the club in 2012, and claimed the Premier League title, League Cup and Europa League.