The financial muscle of the Chinese Super League has been flexed for all to see this week, following the big-money transfers of Jackson Martinez and Alex Teixeira.
It appears that Chinese clubs have also cast overtures towards the Premier League, following Watford's Odion Ighalo's disclosure that he was offered a staggering £300,000 Hebei China Fortune last summer. That was an astonishing offer, and bear in mind that this offer was made before the Premier League season began.
Ighalo weighed up the move in his mind for a few days, revealing that teammates told him that it was too good an offer to pass up.
Ultimately, Ighalo turned to prayer, and revealed that it was this that dissuaded him from making the move to China.
I prayed about it, and God said it was not for me, no matter how much money it was. I knew God would direct me. When I said I don’t want to go, they offered me more money, almost £300,000 a week. I told them it’s not about the money.
Ighalo signed a new Watford contract for a tenth of that salary and has netted 14 goals in the Premier League. He revealed that he has since been subject to more offers from the Chinese club, but has said that he couldn't accept them:
‘I helped this team to promotion. How can I leave because of money? I know money is good. With that sort of money I can secure my life. But you can’t sell your dream.
You certainly wouldn't hear that from many Premier League players.
It's a great interview with Matt Barlow of the Daily Mail, and you can read it here.
