The Welsh forward of Real Madrid, Gareth Bale, has halted his move to Jiangsu Suning after his family asked him to seek an alternative in Europe to avoid moving to China, reported the Marca newspaper on Sunday.
With an agreement with the Chinese Super League team "more than closed, pending signature and medical examination, (...) the player has halted his incorporation and has asked the Chinese club for some time to think," indicated the sports newspaper on its website.
The player's family, who has been at Real Madrid since 2013, "does not see living in China with good eyes" and that's why they asked Bale to explore "other alternatives in Europe before definitively saying yes to the Chinese Super League team," according to the same source.
The BBC went further this Sunday and reported that Bale's move to China "was suspended after Real Madrid canceled the agreement, with the Welsh forward ready to stay with the Spanish club."
Real Madrid did not immediately respond to AFP's requests to confirm the information.
The 30-year-old Welsh international was informed by Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane that he is not part of his plans for the upcoming season.
According to Marca, the former Tottenham player has until Wednesday, July 31, to give a definitive answer to Jiangsu Suning, where he would earn 22 million euros per season.
Real Madrid has given Bale the freedom to choose his destination "and even prefers that he end up signing with a European club to receive a financial amount for the transfer," the newspaper said.
Zidane stated a week ago that Bale's early departure would be "the best for everyone."
Bale's agent, Jonathan Barnett, indicated that any departure from the Santiago Bernabeu for Bale must be permanent and not a loan.
(With information from AFP)