The world woke up to this quote in the past week.

"Asamoah Gyan has to be told plainly that the money he is getting is too much. He and his family are now only interested in money at the expense of Ghana. They are too money conscious. When he left Sunderland for UAE, we managed to contain it. "

"With his new move, there will be some decline. What kind of competitive football is played in China? He has to think about the nation as well and not just his pocket."

These are the comments attributed to controversial football administrator Takyi Arhin in an interview with Kumasi based Angel FM. 

I recall the harsh cynicism and criticism that followed the announcement of the players move to the UAE to play for Al Ain. I am not too sure what football pundits would say of this move but at time when footballers the world over are driven by many other things including wages, Gyan has made another unpopular decision.

Looks like he has done this with his future surely in mind. To assess the motivation behind the move, let's go back to the beginning, shall we?

UDINESE, MODENA & RENNES

After standout performances in his first three years in the colours of the national team and with his penchant for scoring goals, it was only a matter of time before he made the transition from the Ghana Premier League to a top European club. 

10 goals in 16 appearances for Liberty Professionals in 2003 saw him make the hop to Udinese, following the course of his seniors Mohammed Gargo, Stephen Appiah and others. 

After struggling to make an impression at the Bianconeri in the 03/04 season, Gyan was soon on the move to Modena in the second tier of Italian football in search of experience and regular playing time. 

15 goals from 54 games in two seasons earned him a recall into the senior side of Udinese in 2006. There, he would make a further 39 appearances in two seasons with a goal return of 11 - an average of just under one per every third game. An €8m offer from Stade Rennes in the French Ligue 1 in 2008 was irresistible for agent and player and soon, he was plying his trade in Ligue 1. 

In 53 appearances for the French club in two seasons the goal poacher nicked in a decent 14 goals - one in every third game.

SUNDERLAND

Then came the blockbuster move to Sunderland in the English Premier League. That decision defined his career. I vividly recall his stunning goal against Chelsea at the Bridge with his Black Cats shocking the Pensioners 0-3. 

He was on song and desperate to make an impression in the world’s most passionate football theatre. In 37 games in all competitions, he came through with a return of 11 goals, again an average of just under a goal every three games.

BLACK STARS

Within this same period, Gyan was unplayable in a Ghanaian shirt. Five goals in two World Cups - 2006, 2010 - and another five in two Nations Cups - 2008, 2010 - literally readied him for a bigger platform.

A goal right at the death against the three Lions of England in a friendly at Wembley had gotten the attention of many top agents and football clubs. At only 25 and in his prime, it was only a matter of time before he was snapped up by a top-four Premiership club or one in mainland Europe. And then the shock came.

AL AIN SHOCKER

There have been several stories told over the years concerning his switch to Dubai and the speed with which the deal was done. 

At some point he was on the radar of Real Madrid, so the rumorus said, but the club later rubbished it. Some said the agent of the player was only using those links to get a better deal for Gyan. Granted, that was the case or otherwise, only a few individuals may have been in the position to know where the player's next career move was going to be. 

It had to be Europe. Or so we thought.

I was particularly confident that a move to a top club was only a season away. Such was his stock at the time. And so I was in total shock and disbelief when at the prime of his career and the possibility of leaving a lasting legacy on the sport, Gyan chose to switch from a very competitive league to what at the time could only pass for players well passed their prime. 

I could simply not accept that his agents, whoever they were at the time could convince him to take such a “backward step” in his career. The man had decided. 

After all, he was old enough to take decisions and they had to be respected. Three and half seasons down the line, 104 games and 113 goals in return, the Dubai based club would surely have had their money's worth. 

His goals had brought the club three league titles, a Presidents Cup and an Arabian Gulf Super Cup. On a personal level, he had won the top scorers' award on three occasions, a top scorer award in the Asian Champions League and the Asian Football’s Confederation Player of the Year. 

On the monetary front we are told he was earning something in the region of $200,000.00 a week. That works out to cool $10.4m a year minus bonuses. 

Crazy. 

Gyan is an Accra Academy product, as I am, and I've had the chance to speak to him on several occasions about this move. His reasons sounded logical even if I thought otherwise. 

In recent times I have, again, spoken to him about a swansong in Europe as he still looked good enough to play at that level. It’s been a record 48 goals in 90 Ghana games and 170 goals in 304 appearances at club level. He simply had it, I told him. 

Again, he was quick to let me know that he had no plans in that regard for now and had had a great time in the Gulf.

SHANGHAI SIPG

This club was founded on Christmas day, 2005 and is just less than ten years old. 

It is owned by the Shanghai International Port Group in Shanghai, the biggest city in Chairman Mao’s China. 

It is managed by former England manager,Sven Goran Eriksson. Decent enough an attraction for a player but what is the attraction in here? 

In the last few years African stars Didier Drogba and Seydou Keita have signed for Chinese clubs who promised unheard of wages only to renege. The duo were soon back in Europe. 

Gyan is said to have agreed a deal worth $350,000.00 after tax which would make him the eighth highest paid player in the world, per various reports. Sounds like very good company. And I would want to believe that the club matches the player’s ambitions as well.

It is worth noting that Gyan's new league also has Demba Ba, Niger's Moussa Maazou, and Zambia's prolific Jacob Mulenga, now 31 years. The Ghanaian is not exactly alone there as one may think. And with the coming of Robinho and more star names in the future, it may just be more competitive than Al Ain.

HE'S ALREADY STARTED!

And what a way to begin his career in China, but with a debut goal for SIPG against Tianjin Teda. He also won a penalty in the same game. The goals are surely on their way.

FUTURE

As unpopular as it may sound, the lad has - again - taken a decision which is to be respected. 

I don’t need to go to China to know about the quality of the CSL. I see enough on television to draw my conclusions. 

Gyan would be 30 on November 22. Let's say he still has about five more years to play at the highest level of the sport. 

He has taken a decision which is in his best interest and surely his last bumper contract before he retires. Could he have been playing for a top club in Europe and earning these outrageous wages but for his decision to move to the East and now the Far East? 

Would this affect his performance in a Ghana shirt - as he has been our main source of goals in the last decade? How I wish I knew the answer. 

One thing I can guarantee though is that by the time his career comes to an end, he would have made so much money to invite and probably fly all his playing mates the world over for his testimonial in Accra. 

Not bad at all, is it?

CONCLUSION

Gyan’s legacy would be written after he has played his last game in a few years. Would it be one that would be defined by his prowess or by monetary considerations? Time would tell. 

Baby Jet, 早上好 .

-

Kwame Dwomoh-Agyemang is a Joy Sports producer.  Follow on Twitter: @DwomohKwame. Get more from us with #JoySports hashtag on Facebook/Twitter