Barca keep quiet on Martinez

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has declined to speculate if the club are interested in Athletic Bilbao's midfielder Javi Martinez.

The 23-year-old midfielder has been linked with a host of top European clubs, with Bilbao's president recently stating Martinez could only leave if a side meets the €40million (£32m) release clause in his contract. Rosell has refused to discuss any link between the Blaugrana and the player, fearing any admission of interest could see any potential price-tag escalate as a result. "If we had any interest in Javi Martinez, I wouldn't admit it. If we were not interested in him, I wouldn't admit it either," Rosell was quoted as saying on the club's website. "We have to go about these things with prudence and secrecy, because if we don't the price of the player goes up and that hurts Barcelona."