Midfielder was offered a contract by Rio Ave but turned it down.
Lions XII midfielder Hariss Harun insists there were reasons behind his decision to turn down a move to Portugal this summer.
Hariss was an influential figure for the Lions in their Malaysian Super League title success with his performances at the Jalan Besar Stadium catching the eye of Primeira Liga side Rio Ave.
The Rio Grande finished sixth last season, narrowly missing out on Europa League qualification, and last month they offered the 22-year-old a contract and the opportunity of a lifetime to move to the Estadio do Rio Ave.
But, having waited six years for a club to present him with the chance to play professionally in Europe, Hariss surprisingly chose to reject the advances of his Portuguese suitors and remain with his current employers.
“It’s a mutual thing… They put certain options to me and I guess it just didn’t happen. But there are reasons and complications and it wasn’t so straightforward,” he explained to The New Paper.
“I had discussed my future with my family throughout the last month and we felt it just wasn’t right.”
Johor Darul Takzim were also reportedly interested in Hariss and could still yet make a move after he refused a move to Portugal.
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