"If he wants, I'll explain it to him personally" - Levante head coach Luís Castro hits back at Fabrizio Romano

The renowned insider and journalist has come under fire from Levante's head coach.

Details: Levante’s 45-year-old Portuguese manager, Luís Castro, responded to a provocative claim made by well-known journalist and insider Fabrizio Romano, who insisted that Castro was benching Etta Eyong because the player refused to transfer to CSKA.

Earlier, Romano reported that the Russian club offered around €30 million for Eyong—a significant sum for the modest Spanish side—but the player turned down the move, which allegedly angered the management and resulted in him being relegated to the bench.

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Castro, in turn, stated that Eyong remained on the bench against Villarreal for completely different reasons and is ready to personally explain his decision to Romano:

"I am not personally acquainted with Fabrizio Romano, but if this was the reason why he came on later? That’s very unfair to him and to Espi. Espi had a fantastic match; he deserves to keep playing. Etta was on the bench for tactical reasons. Also, as we know, we had to pay a release clause, although the club told me that if I needed him, there would be no problem. And I brought him onto the pitch. Since Etta didn’t start, it was purely for tactical reasons. If Fabrizio wants to invite me, I’ll personally explain the technical aspects to him," said the Portuguese coach.

This season, Karl Etta Eyong has played 23 matches for Levante, scoring 6 goals and delivering 3 assists. His current contract with the club runs until 2029, and his market value is estimated at €20 million by Transfermarkt.

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