Report: Dario Benedetto rejected $14M move to Seattle Sounders

Dario Benedetto reportedly declined a chance at returning to North America, his heart and soul belonging to Boca Juniors.

According to Diario Ole’s Juan Szeinfeld, Benedetto rejected an offer from the Seattle Sounders valued at $14 million because he wants to to fulfill his dream of winning a title at Boca. The Los Angeles Galaxy apparently also expressed firm interest in the Argentinian forward, but the Californian club was equally unsuccessful in its pursuit.

“I don’t want to leave until I’m a champion,” Benedetto allegedly told both his representative and Daniel Angelici, Boca’s president.

Assuming Diario Ole’s report is accurate, the Sounders’ offer had the potential to be the largest transfer fee in Major League Soccer’s history, eclipsing the $10 million paid by Toronto FC to AS Roma for Michael Bradley in 2014.

It also must be noted the report was published on the same day Carlos Tevez joined the Chinese Super League’s Shanghai Shenhua from Boca, reportedly becoming the world’s highest-earning footballer with a record-breaking salary of £615,000 (approximately $755,000) per week. As for the transfer fee, ITV Football reports its worth at £71.6 million (approximately $88 million).

Related: Tevez completes move to China, will reportedly earn world-record wage

Benedetto joined Boca in June, fresh from a spell at Club America in which he helped Las Aguilas conquer the CONCACAF Champions League in 2014-15 and again in 2015-16. The No. 9 is Los Xeneizes’ top scorer thus far in the 2016-17 Primera Division, boasting seven goals through nine appearances.

The Sounders and Boca appear to have a strong relationship. Seattle poached Nicolas Lodeiro from Los Xeneizes in July, signing the Uruguayan attacking midfielder to a multi-year contract as a Designated Player.