While failing to score in his side's 4-1 victory over Guoan, his towering presence was on display, and the influx of other players like him will be key to this league growing.

Signed from Paris Saint-Germain in February 2016, Lavezzi may now be one of the world's highest-paid players, but injuries have meant he has only played 10 matches for his new club. Sunday's game however saw the 32-year-old silence the home crowd, pulling the strings and assisting all four of Hebei's goals.

"I think my assists helped the team win, but the most important thing was the fact we won the game here in Beijing. It was also important that we won by playing well as a team,” said Lavezzi.

Under the guidance of Premier League winning coach Manuel Pellegrini, he has all the attributes to adapt to the CSL's slower but compact style of play, and he hopes his experience can help the Chinese players develop, and with it, the standard of the game in the country.

"It's obvious that the arrival of us foreign players will help Chinese players improve their abilities and lift the level of football in the league,” said Lavezzi. “Foreign players will also make the league more popular around the world, and attract others to come."