Thursday, 1st March, 2012
Athletic Bilbao midfielder Javi Martinez believes that his hefty €40M buy-out clause will put off potential suitors and claims he is not worth the amount that would be required to snap him up from the Basques.
Martinez has been linked with a number of clubs in recent months, with the most serious interest believed to emanate from English Premier League giants Manchester United and Catalan powerhouses Barcelona.
It is highly unlikely that Athletic Bilbao will be open to selling the 23-year-old in the summer however, especially with coach Marcelo Bielsa having improved the side to such an extent that Champions League football is now on the agenda for the 2012/13 campaign.
The former Chile boss will no doubt want to keep Martinez for any European tilt, meaning that the player’s buy-out clause of €40M will need to be paid to take him from San Mames.
"I do not think there is anyone who wants to pay so much for me. I do not think I’m worth that much; I’m not worth €40M", said Martinez to El Mundo Deportivo.
Martinez is also playing it cool over speculation of interest in his services, with Barcelona suggested as a potential suitor, while Manchester United will undoubtedly use the occasion of their forthcoming Europa League clash against Athletic Bilbao to take an even closer look.
"I’m not saying anything now", commented the 23-year-old.
"These things are always going on in the football world. It is very nice to be talked about in the papers though and it is a product of what you are doing and it suggests you are doing the right things."
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