The Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande say they allowed their top scorer Elkeson to join their rivals Shanghai SIPG in a record deal in order to bolster their Super League rival’s chances of continental success.

Guangzhou, the reigning five-times Super League champions and AFC Champions League holders, acknowledged money had also been a factor in the sale of the Brazilian striker but said the main motivation was China’s greater good.

“For the purpose of supporting Chinese teams to compete in the AFC Champions League and for the national glory, we agreed Elkeson’s transfer to Shanghai SIPG club,” Guangzhou said in a statement.

“The [sale of] Elkeson created a record high number in Chinese transfer market, the club got back the €5.7m investment and acquired a profit,” the club said.

Shanghai, who finished two points behind Guangzhou in the Super League last year, paid around €18m for Elkeson, according to a source close to the 26-year-old Brazilian, who scored 77 times in three trophy-laden seasons.

Elkeson scored the winner as Guangzhou beat Al-Ahli of the UAE to win a second AFC Champions League in three years in November. The 2013 win in the final over FC Seoul was the first time a Chinese club had won the trophy in 23 years.