Barrios offers to reconcile with Chinese club

Paraguay striker Lucas Barrios has offered to apologize and tried to reconcile with his Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande following their contract row.

A source with the Chinese Super League champions told Xinhua on Wednesday that Barrios' agent took the initiative to call the club in a bid to mend their relationship.

Barrios and Evergrande had been in a heated contract row as the former former Borussia Dortmund player claimed the club failed to pay him in full while Evergrande accused Barrios of breaching contract terms by flying home for a match against Chile in early June. Barrios did not return to China until the end of June.

Both sides took the matter to soccer's world governing body FIFA with Evergrande requesting a compensation of 25 million euros and a 6-month sporting sanction.

The source told Xinhua that FIFA had taken up the suit and requested Barrios to submit more detailed evidence by Aug. 16. Otherwise, FIFA will rule in Evergrande's favor.

"Barrios' side have been seeking a transfer in vain and now are being rushed by the FIFA deadline," said the club official who declined to be named.

"They hope the club will allow Barrios to have a successful transfer," the official said.