Manchester City Star Turns Down Massive Chinese Super League Offer

By Teddy Cutler On 1/18/17 at 3:55 AM EST

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure, center. — Yaya Toure of Manchester City at Goodison Park, Liverpool, England, January 15. Toure has reportedly turned down a move to China for the second time in a year. Michael Regan/Getty

Sports Yaya Toure Manchester City Premier League Chinese Super League

Manchester United midfielder Yaya Toure has turned down a transfer to the Chinese Super League for the second time, according to reports.

Toure, the 33-year-old Ivorian, rejected a move to China in the summer of 2016 and, according to the BBC, did the same this January transfer window.

The offer, from an unnamed Chinese club, was understood to be worth £430,000 a week ($530,000). A dispute between Toure's agent Dimitri Seluk and manager Pep Guardiola saw the player frozen out of City's team earlier in the season, but he has since been reintegrated.

The CSL, meanwhile, has spent the January transfer window attempting to sign many of European football's highest-profile players, despite an incoming rule that will limit its clubs to using three non-Chinese per game.

Shu Yuhui, the owner of Tianjin Quanjian, confirmed interest earlier this week in Chelsea striker Diego Costa, who was dropped from manager Antonio Conte's matchday squad for the victory at Leicester City last Saturday. Costa had a back complaint but reportedly had his attention taken by Chinese interest in his signature.

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