Santos playmaker Lucas Lima said he rejected an offer of £200,000 a month to play for a Chinese football club and rather remain to keep his dream of playing for the Brazilian national team and Europe alive.
Lima, who has been linked with Italian club Torino and Portuguese giants Porto, garnered strong interests from Chinese clubs Jiangsu Suning and Shanghai SIPG following his breakout season with Santos.
A move to China seems to be the trend within Santos players after Jadson, Renato Augusto, and Gil joined China's league at the end of the season in December. However, Lima has no interests in exchanging his chance to represent Brazil in the international stage and eventually showcase his talents in Europe.
"I talked to my father and with my family. My father always says that money is not everything in life, it is also important to be happy," Lima told Esporte Interativo, reports Four Four Two.
"I'm not going to say that I do not want to have money, to be rich, because I'd be lying. But I made this choice for my happiness, which is playing football and the dream of playing for the Brazilian national team and Europe."
Earlier this month, Lima also expressed his desire to not play for the Chinese Super League after the likes of Diego Tardelli, Robinho, and Ricardo Goulart have already been lured by big money coming from Chinese football clubs.
Lima, who's contract with Santos is due to expire in 2017, even joked that Chinese teams "will have to watch me on TV" and insisted his focus is staying with the Brazilian team, who starts their Paulista A1 campaign against Sao Bernardo on Jan. 31 at Estadio Urbano Caldeira.
"I hope it can be an excellent season, for me and my club. Santos are always fighting for titles and we need to be conscientious.
"Now it is time to work to produce an excellent season, I hope to be very happy this year." Lucas said, reports Sambafoot.