Transfer Centre

Everton's Roberto Martinez: 'Marouane Fellaini sale to Manchester United on our terms'

By Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter | 06 September 2013

Roberto Martinez says that Everton decided to let midfielder Marouane Fellaini leave the club when Manchester United met the club's valuation of the player.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez has revealed that Marouane Fellaini's late sale to Manchester United on transfer deadline day was granted when the valuation for the midfielder was met.

The Belgium international signed for the Red Devils for £27.5m after submitting a transfer request at Goodison Park on deadline day.

While Martinez has claimed that the club wanted to keep Fellaini, the Spaniard has insists that the player leaves the Merseyside outfit with the club's "blessing".

"You always want to keep your best performers and Marouane has had five outstanding seasons at Everton, but he leaves with our blessing," Martinez said in a press conference.

"I think everything was done on our terms and I think that's what matters, and what's important. We wish him well, but I do feel that when you lose a player, you need to end up with a better shape in the squad, and I think that's what we achieved."

Everton signed James McCarthy from Wigan Athletic on a permanent deal, as well as agreed the loan captures of Manchester City's Gareth Barry and striker Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea.