COSTA
Diego Costa's hopes of moving to the Chinese Super League
(CSL) have been scuppered by a new restriction on foreign players, according to
Tianjin Quanjian's owner.
Billionaire Shu Yuhui claimed his club backed out of moves
for Costa, Edinson Cavani, Karim Benzema, Radamel Falcao and Raul Jimenez
following a rule change limiting the number of foreign players allowed in CSL
matchday squads.
Sky sources understand Costa, who has been training alone
with a back injury, was the
subject of a £30m-a-year offer from Tianjin, who were willing to pay
Chelsea up to £80m to sign the striker.
Yuhui confirmed he was interested in signing Costa before
the decision to restrict foreign imports, which comes into force when the new
Chinese Super League season kicks off in March.
"If [the rule] had been '4+1' as in the past, then we
would have made a big investment this year, but now it seems to be changed to
three," Yuhui told Tianjin TV.
"This situation has brought a change to our signing
plans. The online reports about Costa, it's true we'd like him, and we made an
offer for Cavani and were deep in negotiations."
Yuhui went on to say Tianjin had been unable to complete the
deal because Chelsea wanted to keep Costa until the summer.
"We couldn't afford to wait half a season," he
added. "We continue to wait and suffer, but at the end of the day, we'll
get someone.
"We have targeted a lot of strikers, and made an offer
for Benzema, but with this policy change, we are very helpless."
Tianjin, who have already signed Belgium international Axel
Witsel, are managed by Italy's World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro and
recently won promotion to the Chinese Super League.
Yuhui is prepared to invest heavily to bankroll a run at the
Asian Champions League and confirmed he held a meeting with Costa's agent Jorge
Mendes, who also represents Falcao.
"Mendes came to my home a few days ago and we also had
ideas about Costa, but in the process were ready to sign two players, the
contracts were done, the price was good - Falcao and [Benfica striker] Raul
Jimenez," added Yuhui.
"The contracts were ready, the two players ready to
sign, and then we get the news about the salary limits and restrictions on
foreign players, so that made us change."
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