LaLiga - Getafe Denied he is the richest player in the world

When Mathieu Flamini signed for Getafe, the news was inundated with headlines that he was the richest player in the world, but the ex-Arsenal man has spoken out to deny those claims.

Flamini is an owner of GFBiochemicals, an oil company.

"It's important to correct things," Flamini told L'Equipe.

"Opposed to what I read, I don't have 30 billion euros in my bank account.

"That amount isn't correct for the valuation of my business GFBiochemicals, in fact it's the total value of the market that we want to target with new technology that we've developed in the last few years.

"There was a misunderstanding, it's like if you give a value to a restaurant for the whole catering market in France.

The midfielder is reportedly richer than two of his La Liga rivals, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, which he confessed shocked him.

"At the moment [when they told me], I was a bit surprised, of course," he admitted.

"When you are a public figure, you learn to read between the lines with some distance regarding what's been written about you.

"But I have to say that this story is a bit painful because I didn't join the company to make money.

"My main motivation has always been to have a positive impact on the environment.

"I think it's an area where we all have a role to play."

Flamini may be a businessman off the field, but he'll be back in action on it as he continues to be a key figure for Getafe.