Romanian champions CFR Cluj have shelved plans of signing Ghana international Michael Essien this summer, club manager Edward Iordanescu has revealed.
The former Chelsea and Real Madrid star was closing in on a reported £1 million a-year deal but Iordanescu's appointment as new boss of Ceferistii last week has put the transfer off for the foreseeable future.
Essien is on a search for a new club after being released by Indonesian outfit Persib Bandung in March.
“There were some discussions about signing Michael Essien before I came to the club, but they never came to fruition," Iordanescu was quoted as saying by The Sun.
"I don’t know what amounts were involved, but I did not need the player.
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“I stopped Essien’s transfer to CFR Cluj.
"I already have a lot of experienced players who our youngsters can look up to.
“At present I don’t need players aged 36 or 37. We already have a valuable squad.”
Essien earned global recognition during his time at English club Chelsea and Spanish giants Real Madrid.
He has also played for other top European sides such as AC Milan in Italy and French outfit Lyon.
At international level, the Accra-born represented Ghana at the 2002, 2008 and 2010 Africa Cup of Nations as well as the 2006 and 2014 Fifa World Cup tournaments.
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