Nguyễn Quang Hải denies J-League competition. He wants to play for Hà Nội FC. Photo anninhthudo.vn

HÀ NỘI — Midfielder Nguyễn Quang Hải of Hà Nội FC has rejected an offer to play for Consadole Sapporo in the J.League, according to his current club.

The V.League 1 champions Hà Nội announced that they had rejected the approach after the national team star said he wanted to continue playing for the club.

The club also quoted Hải as saying he appreciated the Japanese side's offer but he hoped to contribute more to his current club and he believed that Hà Nội would be a good launching pad for his career.

It is not the first time Hải has received interest from international clubs and Spanish La Liga and Thai League sides have been linked with the player.

Consadole Sapporo is a club based in Hokkaido. They are currently home to Thailand Chanathip Songkrasin and had Vietnamese legend Nguyễn Công Vinh on the books for five months in 2013.

Hà Nội also revealed they are working on a deal to extend Hải's contract. He is currently in a training camp in South Korea with the national U23 squad in preparation for the Asian championship early next month. VNS