Martinez Any Closer Getting Barry To Sign?

Last updated : 11 February 2014 By Footy Mad - Editor

Roberto Martinez:  "It (speculation with other clubs) doesn't change anything. I trust him implicitly.

"He has incredible human values. He's a person who needs to make footballing decisions.

"He's enjoyed an incredible career and is in a position that he can choose where his football happiness is going to be.

"From the beginning Gareth was a massive target of ours: he was available in the summer for other clubs and he decided to come to Everton.

"We did everything to bring him to the club and the relationship was to make sure he could go back to his very best, enjoy his football and have a big role at Everton.

"We were very clear with what we wanted from Gareth - to put him in an environment where he could be important, we could use his experience and he could enjoy his football. That was always the case for this season.

"At the end of the season we will sit down and see if we've reached every single target we had and I'm sure Gareth is only focused on the games ahead and winning as many as we can for Everton.

"Nothing else matters. When you get interest from other parties and clubs looking at our players it is a good sign because the players are doing well and that is a compliment I take with happiness."