Corinthians midfielder Elias. (Photo : Getty Images)
Brazilian footballer Elias Mendes Trindade, or simply Elias, is set to stay with his Brazilian Serie A squad Sport Club Corinthians Paulista after Chinese Super League squad Hebei China Fortune FC recently backed out of a €10 million offer for the midfielder.
Business Standard reported that Hebei, who was just promoted to the China top-flight last season from China League One, "tabled a 10 million-euro offer for Elias in December".
"It was a very good offer, both for me and for the club, but I don't know what happened," said the 30-year-old Sao Paulo, Brazil native during a recent interview.
"I have a contract to fulfill. I am at a great club so there's always a tendency for something to appear but my focus is to remain with Corinthians to play in the Copa Libertadores," he added.
Corinthians, the reigning champions of the Brazilian Serie A, have recently relinquished several players to China clubs such as Jadson to Tianjin Songjiang and Renato Augusto and Ralf to Beijing Guoan.
Coringão strikers Vagner Love and Alexandre Pato are also rumored to be set on transferring to China this coming season.
Meanwhile, another Brazilian and Corinthians footballer, Carlos Gilberto Nascimento Silva or Gil, is allegedly being courted by CSL team Shandong Luneng also for €10 million, via Goal.
With so many of his players now out of their championship roster, Corinthians head coach Tite has expressed concerns about the mass exodus.
Another player who is going to stay with Corinthians, though, is goalkeeper Cassio following a recently failed transfer discussion with Turkish club Besiktas.
