Guus Hiddink turned down China offer

Guus Hiddink has revealed he has been approached to manage in the Chinese Super League.

The 69-year-old Dutchman was installed as Chelsea caretaker boss in December after Jose Mourinho’s departure, but says he had chances to manage in China.

“I had some possibilities to go there in the recent past,” said Hiddink, who did not expand on the comment.

Ramires was sold to Jiangsu Suning by Chelsea last month for a reported £25 million (€32m) as part of a wider investment in football, with other players also heading to the Chinese Super League.

Jiangsu Suning are managed by former Chelsea defender Dan Petrescu, while Sven Goran Eriksson and Luis Felipe Scolari are also bosses in China.

Hiddink reckons China is an attractive option for many, but so too is the Premier League, which has a global appeal and will soon have a further influx of cash from the new broadcast coverage deal, which is worth £5bn domestically.

“Of course when you travel around the world, the Premier League is so attractive, attracting a lot of people,” added Hiddink, whose side play Manchester United tomorrow.

“In the biggest cities to the smallest villages, wherever in the world, there is a satellite showing Premier League.

“(And) clubs in England cannot complain about having no income in the near future.”