Out-of-favour Barcelona forward Martin Braithwaite has claimed that he does not plan on leaving the club in the summer transfer window.
Speaking to newspaper ‘Bold’, as relayed by SPORT, Barcelona striker Martin Braithwaite has ruled out the possibility of him leaving the club in the upcoming transfer window, insisting that he is very happy at Camp Nou.
Braithwaite was signed by the Blaugrana in February 2020 as an emergency signing due to injuries to forwards on the roster. The 30-year-old has never been a regular in the starting lineup for Barcelona but has managed to endear himself to fans due to his hard-working and committed displays every time he has been given a chance.
Braithwaite started the 2021/22 campaign on a strong note before an injury ruled him out for the first half of the season. By the time he returned to full fitness, Barcelona had changed managers and brought in new forwards in the form of Ferran Torres, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Adama Traore.
It meant that the Danish international hardly featured over the second half of the campaign, playing just two games under Xavi. With Barcelona pushing to sign Robert Lewandowski this summer, Braithwaite’s chances of playing regularly will only get bleaker. It has led to him being linked with an exit heading into the summer.
?Martin Braithwaite via BOLD.
? "I know I have two years left in my contract. I'm having a great time at the club. I haven't played that much, but we have a good coach and I know I'll probably have the chance if I'm there and work hard."#FCB ?? pic.twitter.com/sS36wn6mnH
— Barça Buzz (@Barca_Buzz) May 31, 2022
Braithwaite is attracting interest from clubs in La Liga, while Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion are also keen on signing him on loan. However, the former Middlesbrough forward has flat out rejected the possibility of leaving Barcelona this summer, stating that he is happy at the club despite his lack of game-time.
“I know I have two years left. I’m having a great time at the club. I haven’t played that much, but we have a good coach and I know I’ll probably have the chance if I’m there and work hard. I’ve been in a situation like this before where I haven’t played and people said I wasn’t going to play, but I’ve always had it against me. What’s going to happen this summer is not something that worries me,” he said.
“I’ve got two years left. That’s what I know. Everything else I have no control over, so that’s really what I’m thinking about. Do I hope to continue in Barcelona? Honestly, I don’t think about that. I’m with the national team now and I’m happy to be here,” Braithwaite added.
When quizzed if he would be open to leaving on loan for a season, the striker replied: “I have a family that I need to think about. The children would need to change schools for a year and come back. I don’t see that as an option.”
Given Barcelona’s poor financial situation, they need to ship off players who are not in their plans moving forward. But as things stand, Braithwaite seems to have no intentions of leaving the club in the summer.
