10 superstars who rejected the Chinese Super League's riches

6) Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar had eyes only for a return to Ajax

One of the best Dutch strikers of his generation, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar suffered from being second-best to the likes of Robin van Persie in the Dutch national team. Once heralded as the replacement for Ruud van Nistelrooy, Huntelaar found it tough to nudge Van Persie and remained second-choice.

However, he was still a lethal striker and proved his worth at Schalke where he een managed to score 48 goals in one season a few years ago. Although he is now 33, it didn't stop Chinese clubs from making a beeline for him.

"Offers from other countries I have indeed received, in China for example. They want to pay a lot of money, but I turned it down.

"I had no second thought about it. I wouldn’t leave my family behind ever to play football in a distant land. Not even for a lot of money." Huntelaar (2016)

Huntelaar even said he would move to Ajax (where he spent 3.5 seasons) and that he was willing to take a pay-cut to do so. And that's exactly what he did this summer.