Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini Heads To China

Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini Heads To China

Marouane Fellaini

Marouane Fellaini has opened talks over a multi-million pound move from Manchester United to China.

The Belgium international midfielder arrived at United’s Aon Training Centre at lunchtime on Tuesday to discuss his departure and Sportsmail’s exclusive photos showed him being driven to the complex in a Range Rover.

According to Chinese sources, Fellaini is in talks to join Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng Taishan, who finished third last season and boast former Southampton striker Graziano Pelle among their ranks.

The 31-year-old Fellaini was driven into Carrington at around 1pm by a sports lawyer who Sportsmail understands to be Manchester-based Chris Farnell.

Forbes magazine list Shandong as the fifth most valuable football team in the country. Based in Jinan, eastern China, their home stadium is the Jinan Olympic Sports Centre Stadium and has a capacity of 56,808.

The Chinese are understood to have sent a delegation over to arrange the final details with United executive vice chairman Ed Woodward, though time is on their side with the Chinese Super League window open until February 28.

United sources have also confirmed that the Belgian is in talks with a Chinese club.

Fellaini was a big favourite of Jose Mourinho but has played just 31 minutes under new boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, coming on as a substitute in the wins over Cardiff and Reading.

United’s squad were staying at the Hilton Garden Inn at Lancashire’s cricket ground on Tuesday ahead of their Premier League clash with Burnley.

Fellaini is not part of the squad as he is currently out injured for three weeks after damaging a calf muscle.

He visited Move to Cure in Antwerp on Monday before returning to Manchester.

Regardless, Fellaini recognises that, despite United still pursuing the FA Cup and a Champions League campaign, he will have limited game time under Solskjaer who has preferred to utilise the quicker players at his disposal. Solskjaer has also put a halt to Scott McTominay going out on loan to maintain cover.

The Chinese Super League clubs have courted Fellaini for a number of years and Guangzhou Evergrande had shown an interest last month. However, Sportsmail understands the deal being discussed is with another club.

Fellaini, who was signed for United by David Moyes from Everton for £27m, has often struggled to win over the Old Trafford crowd with his ungainly style but managed to score some important goals under Mourinho.