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"I will not continue"
Pau announces his departure, regrets the management that has been made of his case and stresses that "I can not speak badly of Espanyol", a "spectacular" club
Chronology: "I will not continue wearing Espanyol’s shirt. It has been a complicated year. I have been on the sidelines of the information and I think it is time to explain the reasons of my departure. I will not speak badly of Espanyol, the club that has formed me, with which I made my debut in the First Division, but I think the steps have not been correct. Chronologically, last summer I went to England with a purchase option. Last March, Tottenham communicates me that he wants to form me but they don’t want to pay the amount signed thinking that I only have one year of contract left. They informed Espanyol accordingly and the club decides that if that amount is not paid, I have to return. And I return to Espanyol. The week after playing against Sevilla, the club tells me that an offer has arrived, that they do not count on me and they want me to accept it. The offer was similar to the one from Tottenham and that is why I do not understand that a few weeks before, one is not taken into account and now it is. I stay at Espanyol because my wife is pregnant and because I knew that, without doing the preseason, I would not have options on another team. The management of how this topic is handled is what bothers me. I've played for 9 seasons at Espanyol and I started my career here. The first meeting came in October and we told Lardín that we are not happy with how this issue is being managed, but we are willing to negotiate. The first proposal comes to me on November 14th. There is a month and a half left to be free. They are complicated weeks and in the end I do not answer the proposal. I'm not leaving for money, but for not feeling valued by that person who represented the club. In January my daughter was born and on February 1st I tell a club representative that I will not continue".
Possibilities for renewal: "If they had called me this summer, when I arrived, I would have gladly signed."
Adverse circumstances: "I do not know what would have happened in another situation, but I'm not happy the way my issue was handled by with the club representative at that time."
Uncomfortable: "I think it is not normal, that it is not good that the amount of contracts that are negotiated come out. It also does not help that a somebody threatens you saying that if you do not renew you go to the bench. That causes the opposite reaction. Everything has been negative information".
Thanks to the teammates: "With my teammates everything has been easier. I will miss them. They are lads who help you on a day-to-day basis. It's the best dressing room I've been in and that has made everything easier".
Jordi Lardín: "I have no problem with him. But I do not agree the way he handled my personal situation on behalf of the club. "
Club offer: "It was competitive, but it was not a matter of money. Money is not the reason that I am leaving. It bothered me that this happened, that there were such quick changes of opinion. I think Espanyol did not feel good about my move to England and my relationship with the responsible employee changed altogether".
A great club: "I can not speak ill of Espanyol. I've grown up here, I've grown up, I've been married and I'm very grateful to the people I've met. It's a spectacular club and I wish my teammates and the people of the club all the luck. It is the team that has taken care of me and I do not forget it ".
Door open: "I can not be ungrateful to the people who have given me the opportunity to grow. It is a sad day. I say goodbye, but I hope I can wear this shirt again. Now I start another project and it is another way to grow. I have been happy to play at Espanyol and have been part of this family. I did my best for this club until the end and I will continue to be a parakeet".