Martinez - Rodallega not for sale

Boss insists club are financially secure and will retain star assets

By Jamie Casey   Last updated: 14th January 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Martinez - Rodallega not for sale

Rodallega: In demand

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Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has vowed to put football before finance as interest in Hugo Rodallega mounts.

Former Latics boss Steve Bruce paid Mexican outfit Necaxa £4.5million for Rodallega almost a year ago, with the striker shooting to prominence under Martinez this term.

With seven goals in 19 Premier League starts, the Colombian has attracted reported interest from Stoke, Birmingham and big spenders Sunderland - now managed by Bruce.

However, Rodallega has expressed his desire to stay at the DW Stadium unless an elite club comes calling, but Martinez revealed a concrete offer still eludes them.

"None at all," Martinez told Sky Sports News, when asked if any bids had been lodged.

Develop

"But we're proud of that. I think we want other teams to talk about our players. Not just in the Premiership but other leagues.

"I think it's great for Wigan and our individuals.

"I said at the beginning of the season that we have players in that period of their career who are ready to develop for the next few years and they can play as high as they want.

"Hugo is in that category and is excited to be at Wigan Athletic and we're delighted to have him here and to give him the challenge that he needs.

"We always welcome any sort of admiration and interest in our players because individually it means they are doing something well and collectively they can express themselves and enjoy their football."

Timing

Asked would they have to succumb should they find themselves in a situation where an offer is deemed too good to turn down, Martinez said: "Not really, no because timing is everything.

"January is one of the windows that the timing has to be right for the football club and when you can afford to have a football decision instead of financial decision, that is a very strong position, and that's where we are.

"At Wigan Athletic it's important to take the first step of the plan to stay in the Premier League and that is to keep hold of our best performers of the first half of the season until the end of the campaign.

"We'll carry on making football decisions instead of financial decisions."