Gareth Bale’s Chinese Super League move hopes dead as Jiangsu Suning confirm signing of Ivan Santini
- Real Madrid reportedly block move as they decide they want a transfer fee for Wales captain
- Now the 30-year-old is being linked with a move to Nanjing side’s sister club Inter Milan
Reports on Sunday suggested that the Spanish side called off the agreement after they asked for a fee for the 30-year-old.
Paying a transfer fee would have presented problems for the Chinese club because of the transfer tax in place effectively doubling the cost for the player outside the reported wage offer of US$1.25 million per week.
Any hopes that the deal for the Wales captain could be resurrected before the transfer deadline for Chinese sides on Wednesday have ended with Jiangsu Suning signing Croatia striker Ivan Santini.
The 30-year-old international’s arrival from Belgian side Anderlecht takes up the final foreigner spot at the club and ends hopes of Bale arriving, as the club also signed Brazil international defender Miranda from Inter Milan in this window.
On Sunday, it had been reported Bale was poised to sign a three-year deal to move to Nanjing before the news that the deal was off emerged hours later.