Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini has not ruled out a move to the Chinese Super League, saying a switch to Asia would spell the end of his international career with Belgium.
Fellaini has been linked with a switch to China, with Tianjin Quanjian to be a possible destination. The transfer never materialized prior to the February 28 deadline but Fellaini has left his options open with his latest comments.
“China is not my priority, but we’ll see. I’m honest: if I go, I won’t play for Belgium anymore,” he told local newspapers.
Fabio Cannavaro, the Tianjin Quanjian manager, recently claimed that Fellaini was offered to him during the winter window but he was after a ‘different profile’.
However, Fellaini appears to be quite content working under his current boss Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese has shown tremendous faith in the former Everton man, despite a torrid spell earlier in the season, and Fellaini is grateful for that support.
“I think Mourinho is a good human being. If you work hard, he’ll never drop you. He protected me. I’ll never forget that,” Fellaini said.
Fellaini revealed he felt much less valued by former United boss Louis van Gaal. The Belgian disclosed: “When Louis van Gaal came he said: ‘You can stay, but you’re not my first choice, not my second, nor my third’.
“I wanted to leave but I double-folded and in a few weeks’ time I managed to change his mind. Mourinho called me before and during the European Championship and told me: ‘You’re not going anywhere, I’m counting on you’. I have a good relationship with him.”