AEK Athens Didn’t Respect Me – Lequi

By: Chris Paraskevas | February 10th, 2009

In cooperation with Goal.com:

Matis Lequi insists his prospective move to AEK Athens broke down because he was “disrespected” by the Greek giants.

The Argentine defender flew into Athens to sign a two-and-a-half-year contract with the club but refused to do so after being asked to undergo a trial by manager Dusan Bajevic.

The Serb coach appears to have wanted to test the fitness of the former Celta de Vigo stopper, who has been without a club since he was released by the Galicians at the end of last season.

Speaking to Greek newspaper Sportday, Lequi claimed that a player of his pedigree should not have been required to go on trial with the club.

He said, “My transfer to AEK wasn’t completed because their people didn’t decide on it.

“Before I got on the plane to Athens, it was to my understanding that I was coming to sign a contract.

“I went to training this morning and spoke to the manager and he asked me to trial with the club to see what state I was in.

“I refused because I believe a player with my career and my CV deserves more respect.”

Lequi began his career with Argentine club Rosario Central, before moving onto River Plate and then enjoying spells with Atletico Madrid and Lazio.

It was in a three year spell at Celta de Vigo that the centre-back enjoyed arguably his most successful stay, managing 76 appearances and scoring five goals.

Despite not having played professional football for seven months – a concern that perhaps prompted the requests of Bajevic for a trial – the 27 year-old insists that he was ready to start playing immediately in Greece.

“I am ready from a fitness perspective,” Lequi said. “I am ready to play next Sunday and I told this to the people at AEK.

“But I cannot agree to pass a test.

“I came to Athens with the idea that I would sign for AEK – the transfer was essentially set and only needed the signatures; we had talked about a two-and-a-half-year contract.

“It is disrespectful towards a professional footballer.”

AEK Response

AEK Athens technical director Stelios Manolas has meanwhile released a statement on the club’s official website, explaining that any perceived incident between Lequi and Bajevic that was reported by the press is not representative of reality.

Manolas said that no verbal agreement had been reached on the process by which the player would join the club and that Lequi had refused to trial with Bajevic’s side.

It was also explained that the Serbian manager indeed had wanted to look at the player because he has been without a club for a prolonged period.