Rio de Janeiro, Jan 25 (IANS): Sporting Lisbon's Brazilian midfielder Elias has declined an offer to join China's Shandong Luneng, the player's father and agent said.

Elias spent 2013 on loan at Brazilian top-flight club Flamengo and is yet to be told if he is a part of Sporting Lisbon's plans, reports Xinhua.

"I was in Portugal for 22 days trying to negotiate with Sporting Lisbon's directors and we didn't come to an agreement," his father Eliseu Trindade said Friday.

"We discussed a proposal from the Chinese club (Shandong Luneng) which was a very good financial offer. But we declined it. Elias is prepared to give up a lot to come to an agreement with Sporting. I am confident we can reach a deal but for now we've done all we can."

Flamengo have offered Sporting six million euros to sign the 28-year-old on a permanent move.

The Portuguese club is understood to be awaiting offers from other clubs before making a decision on the player's future before the close of the January transfer window.