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Ronaldo spurns China but EPL ref keen
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WORLD player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo rejected a world-record 257-million pound (US$317 million) bid from China, his agent Jorge Mendes has claimed.
Mendes told Sky Sports Italia on Thursday that the unnamed Chinese Super League side had offered the 31-year-old Portuguese superstar a record 85-million pounds a year as salary.
“From China, they’ve offered 300 million euros to Real Madrid and more than 100 million (euros) per year to the player,” said Mendes.
“But money is not everything. Real Madrid is his life. Cristiano is happy at Real Madrid and it is impossible to go to China.”
The CSL has flexed its considerable financial muscle in the international transfer market, with Shanghai SIPG buying Brazilian international Oscar from Chelsea and Shanghai Greenland Shenhua landing Argentinian veteran Carlos Tevez — with the latter reportedly set to earn 38 million euros a year — recently.
However, Mendes said the star of his stable was out of reach.
“The Chinese market is a new market. They can buy a lot of players, but then again it is impossible to go for Ronaldo.”
However, Mark Clattenburg, who refereed the biggest finals in soccer in 2016, would consider a transfer from the English Premier League to the CSL.
“China are certainly looking to develop their football, looking at their signings and their recruitment,” Clattenburg said. “If an opportunity came along — I am contracted to the Premier League — but I have to look at my long-term strategy of my career. How long can I last as a referee? I have been in the Premier League 12 years. It’s been a wonderful 12 years.
“There is no offer on the table but if they made an offer it would be under consideration.”
The 41-year-old Clattenburg was linked with a move to China this week after refereeing the finals of the European Championship, Champions League and FA Cup this year. Clattenburg was named referee of the year at a soccer awards ceremony earlier this week in Dubai, an accolade which allowed Clattenburg to give a rare interview.
Clattenburg hopes when his career in the EPL eventually ends he will be able to help a country like China raise refereeing standards. “Money has never been a driver as a referee ... It’s about the drive of doing something different, maybe helping the recruitment,” Clattenburg said. “If it didn’t happen now I will be looking in the future at that, a bit like Howard Webb has done (in Saudi Arabia) where you are helping another country develop refereeing.”
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