Wanda's Wang urges China fans to be patient

Wang Jianlin, Chairman of the Wanda Group, speaks during a joint media event with China Union Pay in Beijing, China March 2, 2017. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's richest man, Wang Jianlin, has warned his compatriots not to expect overnight results despite the heavy financial investment in raising the standards of football in the world's most populous nation.

The first modern wave of enthusiasm for the game in China soon after the country opened up to the world in the 1980s was washed away by years of corruption scandals and poor performances on the pitch.