It doesn’t matter what time of the year it is, the question of “which players will go to China in the next transfer window” is always on someone’s lips.
In January, everyone expected Axel Witsel to sign for Juventus following is failed move on transfer deadline day last summer, only for the Belgian to sign for Tianjin Quanjian instead in a move entirely money driven.
Despite this, the player retained his spot in the Belgium squad, which has made a few players potentially think about a move there in the foreseeable future, including Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke.
The Belgian forward gave a lengthy interview to Sport/Foot magazine from his home country, and amid all the standard ‘how are things going’ and ‘is Palace a step down from Liverpool’ questions, the interviewer also enquired about the ‘China conundrum’.
Crystal Palace fans shouldn’t worry too much just yet, as Benteke made it clear he was still ‘very happy’ in England and in the Premier League, but admitted that sometimes ‘there are offers you just cannot refuse’.
Fully behind Axel Witsel’s decision to move to China, even congratulating him when it happened, the Crystal Palace forward explained people play football professionally for two reasons: trophies and money.
While he plays for both, Benteke also admitted: “I also know time is ticking and that I will never be a Messi or a Cristiano Ronaldo who can win lots of trophies.”
And that is why, when asked if he was putting aside the possibility of one day moving to China, he said: “No”.
At least he’s honest.
