Source: Team_Talk
Martinez vows to speak his mind
Roberto Martinez has vowed to continue speaking his mind despite being fined by the FA for comments he made about a referee last season.[LNB] Martinez was fined £2,250 and warned as to his future conduct on Wednesday following comments he made after his side's Premier League game against Manchester City at Eastlands in March.[LNB]The Spaniard had been furious at Stuart Attwell's decision to send off Latics defender Gary Caldwell for a tackle on Carlos Tevez, who subsequently went on to score a hat-trick in a 3-0 victory for City.[LNB]Martinez - who at the time claimed that Attwell had not seen the challenge and accused the official of "lying" - admitted he was glad the matter had been brought to a conclusion, but stressed he would not shy away from speaking out again in future.[LNB]"I always believe you need to be honest after (a game)" Martinez said.[LNB]"I want to enjoy football by being honest and saying what I think.[LNB]"Unfortunately sometimes you have to be careful, but I'm just quite happy that I was able to explain myself and now we can draw a line under it in that respect.[LNB]"(But) I will carry on saying what I feel is right and what the meaning of the game is to me."[LNB]Martinez has been busy trying to strengthen his squad for the coming campaign and revealed he hopes to sign "five or six" players this summer.[LNB]Two names being strongly linked with the club are Estudiantes' Argentinian striker Mauro Boselli and Leon Britton, who Martinez worked with at Swansea and readily admits he is a great admirer of.[LNB]"In my eyes he is a player who has probably been one of the best central midfielders in the Championship over the last two years and he is someone who I know really well," Martinez said.[LNB]"I worked with him for a few seasons and I played with him, so he is someone I really know well.[LNB]"Obviously, I know he is out of contract, he has had a few offers and I am sure it is the most important decision of his football career.[LNB]"It is something where I am not too sure what is going to happen."[LNB]Martinez flew out to the South Africa on Friday night, where he will be working as a pundit at the World Cup - as well as keeping a look out for other potential new signings.[LNB]"I'm going to the World Cup and we are going to see a few players," Martinez said.[LNB]"I think it is important that you sign the right characters and the right personalities.[LNB]"Anyone can spot a good player, but it is all the other ingredients that allows you to be successful for Wigan Athletic.[LNB]"It is a large list in terms of names and it will carry on in that way until we make a signing.[LNB]"So far we have signed Steven Gohouri on a permanent basis and Antolin Alcaraz, the Paraguayan centre-half, and our fans will always be the first to find out as soon as we get new signings."[LNB]One player who could be on his way out of the DW Stadium is club captain Mario Melchiot, who is coming to the end of his contract and is reported to be set for a move to Qatari outfit Umm Salal.[LNB]"Mario is our player until June 30, but obviously there is going to be a lot of speculation," Martinez said.[LNB]"He has an offer from ourselves, so it is for him to decide.[LNB]"He has been an example as a professional for Wigan Athletic and a great performer, and now is a moment in his career that is key.[LNB]"He is 33 and he has got a few options. It seems from what I have seen that he is getting very close to signing, in what will be a completely new sort of football challenge.[LNB]"But until that happens, Mario is our player."[LNB]Meanwhile, Latics midfielder Charles N'Zogbia has been cautioned by Greater Manchester Police for getting someone else to sit his driving test theory paper, following a joint investigation between the force and the Driving Standards Agency.[LNB]N'Zogbia was arrested and later charged with fraud by false representation after turning up at Sale driving test centre to sit his practical test on April 21.
