 McCarthy is keen to play in England |
FC Porto have rejected an offer of US$7.8 million from English Premiership club West Ham for South African striker Benni McCarthy.
The former European champions also rejected a bid from Blackburn Rovers for the 27-year-old, who has been the Portuguese club's top scorer for the past two seasons.
"I can confirm there was interest on the part of West Ham," Rob Moore, McCarthy's agent, told Portuguese daily Jornal de Noticias.
"It is really sad that FC Porto insist on not letting him leave.
"For purely sports-related reasons, he would like to have the chance to play in a better league, but FC Porto wants to keep him despite these two offers," he added.
Moore said he and his client offered to forfeit their commissions in any transfer fee, in order to facilitate the move but claimed Porto officials would not budge.
"The deal [from West Ham] was much better than the one put forward by Blackburn," he said.
"How can they let Deco, Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira pursue their careers in better leagues while at the same time they place barriers in Benni's path?" he said, in reference to the three key Porto players who have left the club over the past year.
McCarthy, who has two years left on his contract, has an $11m release clause inserted in his contract.
The South African almost went to Everton last season but Porto quashed the deal at the last minute.
MMIX
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