Sporting have confirmed that Everton have failed with an
£11.8 million bid for Joao Moutinho, and the Portuguese club remain
unmoved by the midfielder’s public articulation of his intention to
leave Lisbon.
A statement on the club’s official website read: “Following the
statements made yesterday to the media by player Joao Moutinho, who
expressed his willingness to be transferred to another club, which
he already forwarded to the board and director of sports society,
for alleged reasons of a personal nature, the board of directors
has communicated the following:
“ 1. Last Saturday the Fifa agent Pini Zahavi, with a letter of
representation issued by Everton FC, visited the headquarters of
the society and transmitted that the English club offered €15
million (£11.8 million) for the acquisition of the sporting rights
of the player Joao Moutinho, with the figure eventually adding an
amount not yet determined if Everton FC qualify for the Champions
League.
“ 2. The proposal was rejected outright and it was told to Mr
Pini Zahavi, who acted in the dual capacity as representative of
the player and Everton FC, it was not the intention of Sporting SAD
to transfer the player.
“ 3. As is public knowledge, Joao Moutinho’s contract was
substantially improved last year and provides for a termination
clause to the value of €25m (£19.7m) which can be exercised until
June 15 of each year. Any proposals submitted after that
date, although not binding on the company, will have to comply with
certain requirements, which did not happen.
“ 4. In addition Sporting SAD believes that its structures have
the ability to create good conditions for an athlete, with much
pride, beyond the questions of a personal nature which he faces and
can continue to feel good and happy in their midst.
“ 5. Finally, reveals that the personal reasons that the player
pleads to transfer are completely unrelated to Sporting SAD and the
employment relationship it maintains with the player and, as such,
it cannot justify in any way an act of management that does not
advocate adequately the interests of the company and its
shareholders.”
