Money talks in the world of football, and there is a new player in the game splashing money left, right and centre to acquire the services of the biggest names in world football. Clubs from the Chinese Super League are leaving no stone unturned to make the Chinese Football Association a prominent football organisation in the world.
In fact, even Arsene Wenger suspected earlier this year that China could become an attractive destination for established footballers in Europe.
Also Read: Italian striker Graziano Pelle joins Chinese club Shandong Luneng
The Frenchman's words certainly make sense, with the rise in the Chinese economy the transfer market could soon see the best footballing talent move to the Mainland. The Chinese league in recent time managed to sign big name players like Graziano Pelle, Alex Teixeira, Ramirez, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Demba Ba and much more.
Despite the attractive moolah the Chinese are offering, some players have rejected the money to stay in Europe. Here are 5 footballers who rejected a big money move to Asia.
Also Read: Chinese billions forcing their way into Global Football
#5 Wayne Rooney
With only two years remaining on Rooney’s contract, there were plenty of talks regarding his future at the club. Fully aware of his situation, a Chinese club reportedly believed to be Shanghai Shenhua had apparently made a bid worth £27 million including a £500,000 a week for over three years for the Red Devils’ captain.
But the 30-year-old forward is close to becoming the club’s top goal scorer, rejected the move in order to stay at Old Trafford. After a disappointing campaign with England at the Euro’s Rooney has already set his mind on Russia. Rooney has made it clear in a recent interview that 2018 World Cup in Russia will be his last international tournament.
Wayne Rooney is currently England’s highest goal scorer after breaking Sir Bobby Charlton’s record with 53 goals. It will be interesting to see if Rooney will consider a switch to Major League Soccer after his contract with Manchester United expires.
#4 Christian Benteke
Expectations were over the top after the young Belgian striker made a £32 million move to Liverpool last season. But things were not looking good for Benteke after the club sacked Brendan Rodgers, the arrival Klopp the player spent most of the time out injured or on the bench for the club.
And after Klopp made it clear that he won’t be part of the club’s future.
The striker had no other choice but to find another club in the summer. Alerted by the player's availability a Chinese club made a bid of £45 million, which the club accepted. But Benteke’s ambitions of playing Europe saw him sign for Crystal Palace for £30 million instead last month.
#3 Oscar
After a disappointing 2015/2016 season at Chelsea, reports surfaced about the Brazilian playmaker wanting to make a move away from Stamford bridge last season but the news to turned out to be false.
the player rejected a mind-blowing £75 million bid from the Chinese club Jiangsu Suning, the same club that signed Ramirez and Alex Teixeira last year. Despite massive wages offered by the club, the Chelsea midfielder chose to stay in England and progress further in the Premier League.
Although Chelsea had a very disappointing campaign last year, things are looking good again for both Oscar and the club after the arrival of Italian manager, Antonio Conte.
#2 Odion Ighalo
The Nigeria international had terrific debut after scoring fourteen goals in the English Premier League for Watford last season. The Watford striker played eleven times for Nigeria and scored over 37 goals from 63 games for Watford after joining from Spanish side Granada in 2014.
His eye-catching performances last season triggered interest from Chinese side Shanghai SIPG who offered the player a staggering £300,00 a week over a four-year contract which would see him make £40 million in total.
Ighalo admitted that it was an enticing offer and that he had many sleepless nights trying to make a decision. But eventually, the player turned down the move to stay in the Premier League and that he has unfinished business in England.
#1 John Terry
Chelsea football club legend John Terry was in a spot of bother last season after Chelsea had offered him a one-year contract that would see his wages be reduced to £3 million, less than half of the value the player was on. But the 35-year-old former England skipper received a mouth watering £17 million contract for one year.
It was highly unlikely for the Chelsea defender to get an extraordinary offer like that even from the Middle East or Major League Soccer. But to the delight of Chelsea fans, Terry took the deal that the Blue’s had offered enabling him to stay at the club for a further year.
John Terry is one of Chelsea’s longest serving players, making his debut in the Premier League in 1998 at the age of 18. Terry also has the honour of scoring 40 goals in the Premier League, making him the highest goal scoring defender in the history of the competition.
