Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain was in the form of his life in Serie A last season as he broke a 66 year old record by netting 36 goals in the campaign, so it was obvious that he was going to have his name thrown around every transfer rumours column during the summer window.
We've seen Higuain linked to Arsenal, Chelsea, and PSG among others, but without a doubt the best offer that came in for him was from China.
Hebei China Fortune were very serious about acquiring the Argentina striker's services, and Higuain turned down a fortune to stay in Europe. In fact, the offer from China was so big that it is actually worrying if this is the direction that football is heading in.
Hebei China Fortune offered Higuain a weekly wage of £800,000. That is simply astronomical.
Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain turns down £800,000 a week to play for Hebei China Fortune
— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) July 13, 2016
This must be taken with a pinch of salt, as no wage in China has gone over £500,000 as of yet, but it is reasonable to think that Higuain could have been offered that much considering that Graziano Pelle is now the 6th best paid player in world football.
Gonzalo Higuain could have easily taken that money, played two or three seasons in China, and then headed home to Argentina to retire like a King, but instead he wants to play out the peak of his career in Europe.
Nobody could have criticised his decision to cash in, when the amount was that staggering, so he should be praised for rejecting it, but the numbers from China are going to rise and rise, and if they are serious about bringing the star names over to the league there, there will seemingly be little that European clubs can do about it.
