Tuesday, 13th August, 2013
Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido insists he will consider it an "act of aggression" if any clubs try to buy star midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia.
Kondogbia is being monitored by no less than Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid this summer, but Del Nido is adamant the player is not for sale.
Nevertheless, the president was forced to issue a release-clause statement yesterday whilst presenting new recruit Sebastian Cristoforo to the media.
"Kondogbia is not on the market", Del Nido was quoted by Estadio Deportivo as saying. "But whoever wants him will have to pay his release clause of €20m plus VAT.
relatedNewsStory
"And if, as a friend of this club, any team tries to sign him, I say 'please don't put your money down', because we will consider it an act of aggression.
"I have already reached an agreement with [third-party owner] Doyen Group, and he will not be put up for sale this summer."
Manchester City and Juventus had been early-summer suitors for Kondogbia, under contract at Sevilla until 2017.
He was only signed on by Sevilla from Lens last year, but was subject to a Real Madrid bid in June that was rejected.
"We have rejected an offer a week ago for Kondogbia, [the bid was] three times the cost of the player when he came to Sevilla", Del Nido had said at the time.
Kondogbia has so far made 37 appearances for Sevilla with one goal, while he also took part in this summer's successful Under-20 World Cup for France.
Free Bets? The Latest Odds? Betting Tips? It's all at Inside Bet!
