Chinese companies should adopt a long-term investment approach and have a thorough understanding of soccer before they invest in overseas clubs, according to insiders.

"Investing in European soccer is not all about pushing around money," said Xie Liang, a veteran soccer commentator with Radio Guangdong.

Xie's remarks came after Italian third-tier league club AC Pavia, which was bought by a Chinese investor in 2014, recently went bankrupt.