Juan Ignacio Martinez has commented that the issue with Obafemi Martins wanting to leave Levante is now over.
The Nigerian forward had asked to leave the club and publicly then tried to push through a move, only to see Levante reject Seattle Sounders’ offer of €3m.
Heading into Thursday’s Europa League Last 16 first leg at home to Rubin Kazan, his Coach Martinez reflected that he only sees a player focused on facing the team Los Granotes signed him from in the summer.
“For me, it was a small problem on the eve of the match against Valencia at Mestalla. And since then there has been no problem,” Martinez told reporters in his pre-match Press conference.
“Martins is a player in this squad. In the time that I have worked with him, he has shown me that he has added motivation for Thursday’s game because they are his former team, and I see him as very involved.
“The fans may be angry, but be grateful for his performance, we must not forget that he is a major player for us.
“What the players are achieving in these rounds of the Europa League is important. Thursday is the biggest game in our history in a month where we can repeat the same sentence.
“Rubin Kazan are a very strong team physically in defence, who score goals in every game, who have not yet lost and are very experienced.
“I told the players to play Levante against Levante, it is a game of few mistakes.”
