The Leon’s intransigence when it comes to negotiating their stars is coming back to haunt them, as the ill-feeling left when Martinez moved to the Allianz Arena remains
Athletic’s efforts to bring Javi Martinez back to the Basque Country will have to overcome an unexpected obstacle: the bad blood left between themselves and Bayern Munich when the midfielder first moved.
Ernesto Valverde’s side are thinking big for the coming season, especially after the coup of convincing star defender Aymeric Laporte to sign a a new deal amid interest from the likes of Barcelona and Manchester City.
Martinez’s repatriation after four years in Bavaria is seen as a big step in allowing the side to compete alongside the best in La Liga, but the manner in which the Basques negotiated his transfer still rankles around the Bundesliga giants.
Bayern signed the Spain international for €40 million back in 2012, after dealing with an intransigent Athletic board determined not to release their star.
Goal understands that even the personal intervention of Jupp Heynckes, a veteran of the Leon from two spells as coach, could not convince Josu Urrutia to start talks with his Bayern counterpart Karl-Heinz Rummennigge. The Athletic president turned down flat the proposal from the then-Die Roten boss.
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Ultimately Bayern resorted to a move more reminiscent of spy films than transfer negotiations. Martinez was smuggled out of Bilbao in order to undertake his medical under a huge umbrella, after Athletic refused him permission to travel to Munich.
Even four years later, Bayern directors still believe Athletic’s actions were inappropriate, and Goal understands that they are not prepared to sit down and discuss a deal. Carlo Ancelotti, moreover, may keep Martinez as part of his first-team squad, although a transfer is a possibility before the end of the window.
President Urrutia’s mantra of ‘release clause of nothing’ has apparently blown up in his face, and Athletic will have to work hard to convince Bayern to enter talks.
Right now the Basques are maintaining their usual hermetic silence when it comes to negotiations, and whether they will manage to mend bridges with Bayern in order to bring home the star is anyone’s guess.