Martin Skrtel ‘turned down offer to join Barcelona’

Martin Skrtel turned down a January move to Barcelona to stay at Turkish giants Fenerbahce, his agent Mithat Halis has said.

The Slovakian defender moved to Istanbul in the summer of 2016 from Liverpool but will be out of contract at the end of the season.

“Barcelona insisted on signing Skrtel last month because they needed an alternative,” Halis told Diario AS.

“They wanted somebody who can be a back-up for Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti, but Martin did not want to be in this position.

“I think he is a better defender than Clement Lenglet is, but Martin is happy in Istanbul and at Fenerbahce, he has an important role at the club.

“He would prefer to be a key member of a first-team instead of being a substitute at Barcelona.”

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