Athletic Bilbao's star striker Fernando Llorente said Tuesday he will leave the club at the end of this season but insisted it was not about money.
Spain international Llorente, 27, told a news conference he would leave when his contract expires on June 30, adding: "As to whether it is an economic matter, it clearly is not."
He said Athletic had made him a great offer to renew his contract but he decided to leave after "lies" in the press that he was talking to other clubs led to fans whistling him when he played.
"The press hasn't helped much in terms of renewing my contract. That is one of the things that has caused a bad atmosphere for me on the pitch and that is what has prompted me not to renew," he said. "That and a lot of other things."
He said he was focussed on playing for the Basque side for the rest of the season regardless of the upcoming winter transfer window and despite being left on the bench a lot amid the recent speculation about his future.
Source: AFP
