First team

CASTRO ON SAMPAOLI: "WE'RE VERY CLEAR THAT THERE'S A CLAUSE WHICH HAS TO BE PAID"

"There's no chance of negotiations", he said

The president José Castro spoke to the press in the mixed zone after the final match of the season. He gave a positive assessment of the season, and left the club's position on Jorge Sampaoli's possible exit clear. On the season, he commented "it's an assessment that leaves you satisfied. Finishing fourth in such a competitive league is difficult. Third year in a row in the Champions League, second highest points total in history and above all seeing how the fans have enjoyed it. I think we have to be satisfied". On the situation of the manager, he admitted that "he said he can't say no to his national side for a second time and we have to respect him, at the same time the contract that the parties have signed has to be respected". "He said he can't say no to his national side for a second time and we have to respect him, at the same time the contract that the parties have signed has to be respected" And he added: "The president of Boca, a personal friend, and vice president of the AFA has told me that this week they're going to come to speak with us on the subject of Sampaoli. We're going to listen to them. We're very clear that there's a clause that has to be paid and that there's no chance of negotiations, and as well as that, because when we signed Sampaoli we also paid a clause to the Chilean Federation, so if the AFA want him they'll have to pay it as well".

Asked about Jovetic's future, he said that "it's the same with Jovetic as it is with the rest of the squad and the rest of the players who might be in that same situation, we're going to analyse it from now. We've been working for a long time. It's a matter for the manager". "When we signed Sampaoli we also paid a clause to the Chilean Federation, so if the AFA want him they'll have to pay it as well" And who will be the new manager if Jorge Sampaoli does end up leaving? "I can't say anything, because our manager is still Sampaoli and we have a contract with him... We have to have a rest and some calm. Behind closed doors we're working, I can only say that at the moment". Finally, asked about the futures of Vitolo and Jesús Navas, the president made it clear that there was nothing: "On Vitolo we know absolutely nothing more than the fact that he's a Sevilla player and that today he's scored two goals. And on Jesús Navas, the same, there has been contact but nothing else regarding that".