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18th Jan 2017

Robbie Keane had a pretty funny reply when asked if he would play in China

He confirmed he has had an offer from a Championship team...

Robert Redmond

Robbie Keane would run riot in the Chinese Super League.

The former Republic of Ireland captain was brilliant for LA Galaxy in Major League soccer for five years. He won the MLS Cup three times during his time in the United States and was named the league’s MVP in 2014.

Keane scored 104 goals in 165 games. His skill, intelligent movement and experience proved too much for the rookie American defenders. He may be 36-years-old, but the Dubliner would arguably make equally light work of the defenders in China.

By all accounts, the Chinese Super League, despite investing heavily in foreign star players, is a few levels below the best on offer in the US.

However, despite being without a club after leaving LA Galaxy at the end of last year, Keane is unlikely to join Oscar, Carlos Tevez, Hulk and the lads in China.

He did have a witty reply when asked about Diego Costa’s offer from China, worth a reported £30m, and if he would be interested in joining a club in the Asian country.

“If they gave the money Diego Costa was offered, I’d walk there now!” Keane joked during an interview with talkSPORT on Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s very hard for the player (to turn down a move to the Chinese Super League),” the former Tottenham Hotspur striker continued.

“If you’re getting offered 400,000 a week, what do you do?”

The Republic of Ireland’s record goalscorer said he has yet to receive an offer from China, but he does have several offers on the table.

“I’ve got a few offers in England and from abroad as well,” Keane said.

“I’ve had to knock back a couple which were maybe a bit too far away. There’s been a few offers from championship teams, but I don’t want to mention too much. That wouldn’t be fair to them.”

Keane played down any links with Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, two of his many former clubs, and made no mention of a reported offer from Preston North End.

“I’ve had a lot of people asking me about coming back to Leeds and Wolves,” Keane said.

“And they’re great clubs I’ve played for, but you can’t go somewhere if people actually don’t offer you anything

“Until it’s actually in writing to me I can’t comment much on it, but I definitely haven’t heard from Leeds or Wolves.

“I’m back home in Dublin and training quite hard at the moment, so watch this space in the next couple of weeks and we’ll see what happens.”

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