James: Real Madrid star rejects huge Hebei China Fortune offer
It has emerged that the Chinese Super League club were ready to part with a whopping fee for James Rodríguez, and pay him 30m euros a year.Real Madrid-Sevilla live: LaLiga
Real Madrid's James Rodríguez was the subject of a massive bid by Chinese Super League side Hebei China Fortune two weeks ago, it has emerged.
Hebei offering big fee and huge wages
However, the Colombian was quick to nip any possibility of a move to the Far East in the bud - even though he would have earned ten times his current salary.
It's understood the 25-year-old, who is on 3.5 million euros a year net at the Bernabéu, would have pocketed an annual 30 million at the CSL outfit.
110-million-euro bid for James
Real president Florentino Pérez is believed to have received an initial 80-million-euro approach from Hebei chiefs when at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai on 27 December, an event at which the player's agent, Jorge Mendes, was also present.
With Los Blancos unwilling to sell, the Chinese side - who are managed by former Real head coach Manuel Pellegrini - then upped their offer to 110 million euros.
But James stepped in to ensure the advances of Hebei, who were founded in 2010 and were promoted to China's top division in 2015, went no further.
Hebei chasing star players
Hebei have spent big in their efforts to become one of the continent's major forces, signing stars such as ex-Paris Saint-Germain forward Ezequiel Lavezzi.
In mid-December, it was reported that the club were targeting Barcelona ace Leo Messi and were ready to pay the Argentine a whopping 35m euros a year net.
Update 12 May 2017: James has reached an initial agreement with Manchester United.