Juanfran Garcia has revealed that he and his fellow captains at Levante have spoken to Obafemi Martins over his interview given yesterday.
Juanfran commented just yesterday on speculation linking the Nigerian with a €3m move to Seattle Sounders, and was followed soon after by Martins’ declaration on radio that he wanted out.
After training today, Juanfran was back in the Press room to explain the dressing room’s reaction to the interview, which saw the former Inter striker make clear his intention to move to America.
“We have been talking to him to be clear and we will not talk about it anymore. The captains have met and told him that he made a mistake,” the 36-year-old revealed today.
“It is a personal matter and we understand that he is an important player here. We do not know if he will be here in a day or two, or until the end of the season, but until the last day he will try.
“If he plays on Saturday or not depends on the Coach. But what I think is that I do not want any player next to me whose head is not here.
“I do not know what he is thinking, from what I have seen and understood though, he seems fine. Whatever help he wants we will give, if he doesn’t want to be here, we don’t want him playing here.
“We have said that we are not concerned about his attitude and there is no problem with the team. I think the situation can be reversed.
“Here in Spain we treat these issues in a certain way and maybe he comes from somewhere where it is handled differently.
“I have no doubt, if he stays or goes, that the group will emerge from this stronger. Whilst he is here, he belongs to Levante and will fight to his death for us.”
