The Belgium coach, the Spanish Roberto Martínez, denies that he has had “contacts” with Barcelona as a possible substitute for Ronald Koeman and assures that his objective is to fulfill “until the last day” his contract with the ‘Red Devils’, although he acknowledges that “many circumstances may arise along the way.”
“There is absolutely nothing. There are no contacts,” Martinez said in an interview published by the Belgian daily Het Laatste Nieuws on Friday.
The coach, whose name has appeared in the Spanish press as a possible replacement for Koeman, acknowledges that he has a close friendship with Jordi Cruyff, Barcelona’s international talent recruitment department, but says they have not dealt with the Blaugrana club bench.
“The basis of my friendship with Jordi is that we separate the private from the professional. At no time did I ask Jordi what my situation was in Barcelona. I do not think that he does not have the function of appointing a possible new coach,” he said. Martínez, who has been in charge of the Belgium national team for five years and has a contract until after Qatar 2022, insists that he wants to fulfill that contract and says he is focused on the League of Nations and qualifying for the World Cup, although he does not rule out any possibility .
“I would love for us to be the first European country to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar. That is the challenge after the Nations League final. But … in football you never know what will be done tomorrow. I wake up every night. mornings as Belgium coach until the last day of my contract, but I realize that many circumstances can arise along the way, “he concluded.
Hours later, during the press conference offered to announce the list of players called up for the final four of the Nations League, Martínez refused to comment on the “rumors” about Barcelona’s supposed interest in taking over his services. “I have been very clear from the beginning. I must not talk about rumors. We are here to talk about a mini-tournament, the focus should be on the players,” he said.
“I am not going to eat in my personal situation, because I never do. Football is not to talk about coaches, it is to talk about players. Now we have an incredible opportunity to be in the final of the Nations League and that is what it matters, “he insisted.
EFE
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