Athletic Bilbao Coach Marcelo Bielsa has commented the escalating controversy surround Fernando Llorente's contract situation.
The 27-year-old striker has started just one La Liga game this term after he asked to leave the club over the summer, with players' union FIFPro claiming earlier this week that the San Mames side were 'blackmailing' the forward.
But the Argentine tactician has admitted that he has tried desperately to try and make the Spain international see out his career in the Basque country.
“I would be happy if I could do something about Llorente,” he told terra.es. “I would love him to stay with Athletic Bilbao for the rest of his career.
“It is a sincere and legitimate stance we are taking and definitely not blackmail.”
