Martinez open to Premier League move

Athletic Bilbao’s Javi Martinez believes he is suited to the Premier League and admits he would be interested in a move to England.

The Spain midfielder, who picked up a FIFA World Cup winners’ medal in 2010, has been linked with the likes of Liverpool and both Manchester clubs in recent times, having burst onto the scene as a 17-year-old with Bilbao back in 2006.

Martinez, who will line up against Manchester United in the first leg of their round-of-16 Europa League tie on Thursday, is enjoying life in La Liga, but said the Premier League could be more suitable for his combative style.

“Maybe my football is quite physical, it’s certainly more oriented to being physical,” he told Goal.com.

“But I think that is also a valid style here in Spain. Here there are many players who play with my same characteristics.”

“Perhaps the football in England is more suitable but I am doing very well here so that’s not a problem for me.”

Regarding the rumours of a move away from Bilbao, Martinez added: “I try not to pay any attention to all the things that I see or read. In the end these are just rumours of newspapers and the media.”

“The reality is that as yet nothing clear has come my way. No club has made an offer to me or to my agent and so I prefer not to go round in circles with this.”

“I am just concentrating now on the end part of the season and just focusing on giving 100 per cent of my thinking and energy to the club.”

Ahead of the clash at Old Trafford, Martinez said Marcelo Bielsa’s Bilbao side were capable of shocking United.

“We pass the ball more, but we have good experience with English teams,” Martinez said.

“Although we lost 2-1 at Tottenham, but we’ve always had good games when we’ve been to England, so why not, we can surprise them.”