Yaya Touré on trial in China

The 36-year-old has been without a team since December after an unsuccessful three-month spell at Olympiakos in Greece.

There were suggestions that the former Ivory Coast international had retired, but he denied that earlier this week and said he wanted to keep playing "for a few more years".

It appears that his swansong could now be a sojourn in eastern China at Qingdao, who are top of the second-tier China League One and play in Barcelona colours.

Tourée was pictured on Thursday arriving at the city's airport and British media said that he was poised to sign.

But a Qingdao Huanghai press official reported were wide of the mark. "He is here for a trial," said a spokesman.