Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney rejected a China move as he is targeting the England caps record.
The Sun says Rooney now has 119, just six short of the legendary Three Lions keeper.
And Rooney knew that a move to the Chinese Super League would probably have ended his international career.
Despite an influx of stars, the standard of football in China is League One at best.
A source told The Sun: “Wayne knew he had no chance of getting called up for England if he went out there. It would have put Gareth Southgate in a very difficult position.
“His agent has laid down the groundwork for a possible future move.
“Shanghai would be great but none of the clubs there had room for him because they've filled the foreign quota."
It is understood agent Paul Stretford has made it be known that Rooney would look at China again in a year's time.
Source: tribalfootball.com