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
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.
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.
Keep up to date with ALL the West Ham news, gossip, transfers and goals on our club page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary
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.
"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
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.