Odion Ighalo claims he turned down the chance to join Barcelona on loan in January as he 'deserved better' than a short-term deal.
The former Watford striker scored 21 goals for relegated Changchun Yatai in the 2018 Chinese Super League season, which he says attracted interest from the Camp Nou giants.
It would not have been the first time the Liga champions raided China for attacking options, having brought in Brazil international Paulinho for a one-year stint during the 2017-18 season.
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But the Nigeria international felt the nature of the move – a short-team loan deal – was not sufficient to entice him back to Spain, where he had two loan spells with Granada.