Witsel spurns Juventus for 'irresistible' big-money China move

Juventus looks set to miss out on long-term midfield target Axel Witsel, as the Belgian has opted for a lucrative move to the Chinese Super League instead of joining the Italian club.

Witsel, 27, came close to joining the Bianconeri this past summer, but after Zenit St. Petersburg pulled the plug on the deal on deadline day, conventional wisdom - and the player himself - suggested it was only a matter of time before the move was sealed.

But Witsel, who was slated to become a free agent this summer, says an "irresistible offer" has come in from Tianjin Quanjian, the club managed by former Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro.

"It was a very difficult decision because on the one hand there was a huge, top club in Juventus, but on the other hand there was an irresistible offer for the future of my family," he told Tuttosport, as translated by ESPN FC.

"The Bianconeri management always behaved like real gentlemen and I can only be grateful to them.

"I will be a Juventus fan and I hope that Juve will win the Champions League, and who knows maybe our paths will finally cross in future."

Witsel, who will reportedly earn an enormous €18-million annual salary, joins the likes of Oscar and Carlos Tevez, who have also made opulent switches to China in the last month.

His decision leaves Juventus, expected to finalize the signing of Tomas Rincon from Genoa in the coming days, still lacking the additional quality in midfield that the club so clearly needs.