Everton manager Roberto Martinez has slammed Chelsea for their constant pursuit of his defender John Stones and also praised the club chairman for rejecting the numerous bids for Stones. Chelsea have publicly pursued the defender all summer and have had up to four bids rejected for Stones, despite the player handing in a transfer request. Martinez, however, feels Stones is a player who is very important to them and is happy Chelsea did not have oppress his side into selling.
Martinez said: “It is no good thinking that because you have a Champions League budget you’re going to click your fingers and get anything you want because clearly we don’t work like that.
“As a club we have the player and we can say we are keeping him. We know the pressure that will bring and that is why the chairman deserves incredible credit.
“Any chairman would look at any financial deal as an opportunity to do things but our chairman has done what any Evertonian would do and made the right decision for the football club, not for the financial aspect.
“Any chairman would put his manager into a big problem if he sold one of the club’s biggest assets at this stage of the window, and that happens. But our chairman has been very clear and very strong.
“In any transfer deal a player can make a decision on whether to accept a deal or stay when two clubs agree. In this situation the two clubs never agreed.”
Martinez believes his central-defender needs protection and feels the timing of the proposed transfer – three games into the new Premier League season – is unfair on both the club and player.
“It is a very tough time for him and, as a player, you are a little bit mixed-up,” he said.
“John is in the middle of that storm but now it is very clear. John needs protection. Our fans will be the first to make him feel safe and make him feel in the right environment.
“We need to support John more than ever. It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions and I don’t think it’s fair that any player should have to go through that while having to perform.
“The football authorities need to look into it seriously.”
