Bielsa: No January exit for Llorente

Athletic Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa says contract rebel Fernando Llorente will not leave the club in the January transfer window.

Llorente this week publicly announced his intention to walk away from Athletic when his contract expires at the end of the campaign, having been denied a move in the previous off-season.

Athletic might be expected to cash in on their star striker rather than risk losing him for nothing, but Bielsa has insisted the Spain international will be made to run down his deal at Estadio San Mames.

“The situation is what it is. Llorente leaving in January is something the club have rejected,” he said.

“There is already a fixed position, and his presence gives us something extra.

“What happened was nothing different to what was discussed. We have all given our opinions. It would be worth analysing if the situation were not the same as it is now, but there is nothing different.

“I have given my opinion, everyone has, it won’t add anything new,” Bielsa said.

Athletic meet Sparta Prague in the Europa League on Thursday, having already been eliminated from the competition they reached the final of last season.