---
title: "Chinese club turned down chance to sign Fellaini"
canonical: "https://readmanutd.com/2017/03/03/chinese-club-turned-chance-sign-fellaini/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
section: "Man Utd News"
published: "2017-03-03T12:28:53Z"
modified: "2017-03-03T12:28:53Z"
---

# Chinese club turned down chance to sign Fellaini

Chinese club Tianjin Quanjian turned down the opportunity to sign Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini in the January transfer window, according to [ESPN FC](https://www.espnfc.co.uk/story/3073536/tianjin-quanjian-turned-down-man-uniteds-maroune-fellaini-says-fabio-cannavaro).

This is according to their manager Fabio Cannavaro, who guided Tianjin to the top flight of Chinese football at the end of last season and who kick off their first season in the Chinese Super League against Guangzhou R&F on Saturday.

![Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmanutd.com/readmanutd/2017/03/633942770-1.jpg)

The Italian World Cup winner told the outlet that the 29-year-old was offered to the club, but they were pursuing Fellaini’s international teammate, Napoli striker Dries Mertens instead:

> *There are a lot of good Belgian players in the national team who might be interested in playing in China. I’m looking for someone around 28, 29 years old. The regulations of the Chinese league have changed and although Fellaini was offered to us by his agent, I told them I was looking for other types.*
>
> *We had been talking to Dries Mertens. But when we are still in discussion, he suddenly starting scoring for Napoli, but there was no outcome to our discussions.*

Despite not being a regular starter for the Reds this season, Fellaini has still been an integral part of José Mourinho’s plans at Old Trafford, often coming off the bench as an impact substitute and scoring some vital goals for United.

![Clive Mason/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmanutd.com/readmanutd/2017/03/631423832.jpg)

He has made 30 appearances in all competitions under Mourinho and came on for the final few minutes in the EFL Cup final against Southampton as the Reds saw out the game and secured a piece of silverware.

However, Fellaini has been relentlessly criticised by some sections of the United fanbase since his £27.5 million arrival from Everton four years ago and was linked with a move away from Old Trafford after a critical mistake against Everton in early December which cost the Reds three points.

As for Tianjin, they were linked with a number of foreign stars after their promotion to the CSL and they ended up signing Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel from Zenit Saint Petersburg and Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato to bolster their side.