“This is the best for all of us” read Jackson Martinez’s statement on Atletico Madrid’s official website, as his transfer to Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande was confirmed by the Liga BBVA giants on Wednesday.
And the move was beneficial for both sides, indeed, as the Colombian ace packed his bags and left for Asia on a four-year deal, earning Los Rojiblancos €42m, a substantial fee for a player who has scored only twice in 15 games.
The 29-year-old’s exit comes almost 7 months after the once prolific goalscorer left Porto for the Vicente Calderon Stadium for €35m, meaning Atletico profited €7m over the man who scored 67 goals in three seasons in the Portuguese league.
Jackson Martinez signs four-year, €42m deal with Guangzhou Evergrande
"Thanks to my teammates, the coaching staff and the people working at the club for the trust they had in me and the effort they made so I could come here,” said Martinez.
"It has been an honour for me to be a part of this club, but I think the time has come to start another stage in my career. We have talked a lot in the last days and we have agreed that this is the best for all of us."
Jorge Mendes looking happier than Jackson Martinez as €42m move to China is signed: pic.twitter.com/r20rpdN2Aa
— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) February 3, 2016
Jackson Martinez off to a Chinese club? Shame. Another very good player chases the money to play for an unknown league. Career over.
— Sergi Domínguez (@FutbolSergi) February 3, 2016
Jackson Martinez, one of the most wanted strikers in Europe last summer, joins China's Guangzhou for €42 Million. pic.twitter.com/NTwbAFmkLM
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) February 2, 2016
Atletico Madrid has managed to turn a profit on Jackson Martinez despite his struggles https://t.co/4JsA9D0zkB
— David Amoyal (@DavidAmoyal) February 2, 2016
The Colombian ace heaped on the recent trend of players who trading in football in Europe for more lucrative deals in far-east Asia, joining the likes of Gervinho who transferred to Hebei China Fortune FC, and Ramires who sealed a £25m switch to Jiangsu Suning.
According to MARCA, Diego Simeone’s crew will reinvest the €42m from the Martinez deal to launch a bid to resign Chelsea attacker Diego Costa.
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