Beckenbauer: I´ve never heard of Martinez

Franz Beckenbauer has admitted he has never heard of Javi Martinez as Bayern Munich chase the Athletic Bilbao midfielder.

The Spain international is continually being linked with a move to the Bundesliga giants and club president Uli Hoeness recently gave the transfer the green light.

But Beckenbauer says he has never heard of the highly rated 23-year-old.

“Javi Martinez? I do not know him. I have never seen him play,” Beckenbauer told Sport1.

“But he must be good if Bayern are interested in signing him. He has to be a special player or Bayern would not have been after him.

“Of course, he is pretty expensive. But what’s the difference really when you’re talking about 30 million euros or 40 million euros? Bayern can afford a transfer like this.”

Martinez has a 40 million euro-buyout clause in his contract with Bilbao and Bayern are seemingly ready to splash the cash on the midfielder.

Bayern Munich won the DFL-Supercup against Borussia Dortmund on August 12 and begin their Bundesliga campaign against Greuther Fuerth on August 25.