BEIJING - Shanghai SIPG midfielder Oscar denies a recent report saying he joined the Chinese Super League (CSL) side "only for money."

"Fake news! This is very funny news, I never said that I came to China to play football only for money, I want to accept a new challenge," the Brazilian said on his Chinese twitter-like Weibo on Monday.

The 29-year old posted on his Weibo a screenshot, which was an article translated from Italian media.

"I came to China only for money; I don't want to be poor when I am getting old. All the foreign players came to China to earn more money to help their families," the report quoted the former Chelsea player as saying.

Oscar joined the Shanghai SIPG from the English Premier League side Chelsea in 2016 and won the CSL title with his team in 2018.

"I will always do my best to win the league for Shanghai, the Asian Champions League, everyone who knows me knows I would never say that," the Brazilian said.