Gareth Bale’s move to Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning is effectively over after the club signed Croatian striker Ivan Santini.
Santini’s arrival from Anderlecht was confirmed on Jiangsu’s social media channels and his signature means the Chinese outfit have filled their four-player foreign quota.
Similar to the Arabian Gulf League, the CSL allows only four overseas-born players in their squad at one time with Gabriel Paletta set to leave Jiangsu before Wednesday’s transfer deadline, taking them from five to four.
Bale was widely expected to join Jiangsu as a financial package worth over £1 million per week was mooted.
Gareth Bale joins the list of high-profile transfer collapses after Real Madrid pulled the plug on his Jiangsu Suning move 😅
— Sport360° (@Sport360) July 29, 2019
Should Real have let him go?🤔 pic.twitter.com/LXUXgsbgZG
However, reports on Sunday said the Real Madrid board had blocked the transfer with Los Blancos not willing to let the 30-year-old leave on a free.
Jiangsu also unveiled Miranda after acquiring the Brazilian from Inter late last week and with Alex Teixeira plus Eder Martins two key members of former Al Ain and Al Ahli boss Cosmin Olaroiu’s outfit filling the other slots, it’s unlikely a spot will be made available for Bale.
