'I'm not worth £42.5m'

West Ham target Nikola Kalinic says he turned down £42.5million Chinese Super League move… and he isn’t worth that much anyway

Fiorentina strike ace opens up in refreshingly genuine interview about how he has more to offer in Serie A

Toby Gannon

Published: 10:15, 12 Feb 2017
Updated: 10:16, 12 Feb 2017

Nikola Kalinic reveals he turned down a £42.5million move to China

WEST HAM target Nikola Kalinic has revealed he turned down a £42.5million move to China - and is not worth the money anyway!

Fabio Cannavaro's Tianjin Quanjian tried to poach the Fiorentina striker this month.

Nikola Kalinic reveals he turned down a £42.5million move to China — Nikola Kalinic reveals he turned down a £42.5million move to ChinaCredit: EPA

But, in a refreshingly genuine interview, the Croatian told how he snubbed the mega-money move because he feels he has more to offer in Serie A.

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Kalinic, 29, told : "It would have been a done deal if I had said yes, even if I'm not sure what the club would have said.

"Cannavaro called me, but for me the issue closed and has never been re-opened.

The Fiorentina striker even said he is not worth £42.5million in a refreshingly genuine interview — The Fiorentina striker even said he is not worth £42.5million in a refreshingly genuine interviewCredit: Getty Images

Fabio Cannavaro's Tianjin Quanjian tried to sign Nikola Kalinic — Fabio Cannavaro's Tianjin Quanjian tried to sign Nikola Kalinic this windowCredit: Getty Images

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"I am really not worth the €50m (£42.5m) release clause and I doubt anyone will spend that for me.

"I want to point out I didn't know precisely how much the offer was but money isn't everything in life.

"I only just arrived in the football that really matters a year and a half ago and I didn't want to leave now."

I am really not worth the €50m (£42.5m) release clause and I doubt anyone will spend that for me
Nikola Kalinic

Nikola Kalinic is known in England for his brief spell at Blackburn — Nikola Kalinic is known in England for his brief spell at BlackburnCredit: PA:Press Association

There is still hope for Slaven Bilic to sign Nikola Kalinic in the summer — There is still hope for Slaven Bilic to sign Nikola Kalinic in the summerCredit: Getty Images

West Ham have reportedly been monitoring the former Blackburn player's situation in Italy.

Fiorentina had previously insisted their 14-goal hitman was not for sale.

Hammers boss Slaven Bilic could still sanction a summer move for Kalinic as he looks to bolster hit attacking options.

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