When asked by Reuters whether he was in town to sign for the club as their manager, the 49-year-old simply nodded.
Club spokesperson Ma Yue was at the airport to greet him. "We are close to signing him as head coach, there are just a few details to sort out," he said, adding that Batista would not be ready to take charge for this Sunday's Chinese Super League game at home to Guizhou Renhe.
One of Batista's party, who did not give his name but identified himself as the Argentine's manager, said Batista is set to sign a formal contract on Saturday.
"I don't know this coach," Anelka said of Batista on Thursday. "I haven't heard anything about this from the club. I have only learnt this from the media.
"If that is going to happen, there is a huge problem of communication between me and the club, because of the language barrier. I am not aware of anything that is happening."
Shanghai continues to be linked with Anelka's former team mate and Champions League final goal-scorer and match-winner Didier Drogba, who announced earlier this week he was leaving Chelsea.
