• Premier League

Martinez slams Manchester United conduct

Roberto Martinez is furious with the way Manchester United have chased Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines © Getty Images

Enlarge

Roberto Martinez has said Manchester United must have expected that their £28 million bid for Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines would be rejected, describing it as "nonsense".

Martinez accused his Everton predecessor, David Moyes, of being disrespectful in his attempts to sign the midfielder and the left-back.

Martinez believes Moyes breached managerial etiquette by talking publicly about another club's players, and feels the Scot would be unhappy if others started discussing the unsettled Wayne Rooney in a similar way.

Week in Words

Arsene Wenger is staying positive © Getty Images

• Arsene Wenger experiences what nearly every man has, David Haye trash talks (again) and Marouane Chamakh makes a bad choice
• Click here for more

"If managers start talking about players who are registered at other clubs, that is the end of the whole thing," Martinez said. "I think everyone should look after their own things internally.

"I am sure they have got many issues in the same manner, and I could easily come out and give my opinions about these players - but I will be more respectful than that.

"I could sit down and give you half an hour with my vision of how the other club is being run, the players they want to go and how they should be sending messages to all the clubs around the world that they have been trying to sign players and haven't been able to do it."

Martinez accused United of trying to buy Fellaini - who became Everton's club record signing in 2008 - for less than Moyes paid for the midfielder.

"When you invest money in a player and, five years later, you get offered the same money after performing really well, it becomes a little bit of a nonsense," Martinez said.

"They did waste their time. When they put an offer that is below what you spend, I am sure they expected it to be rejected. As a new manager, I am following the structure we have at the football club. I heard in the past that Everton never sold cheap."

Martinez does not yet know whether United will return with an improved offer, but said of the saga: "It has been a bit of a farce."

But he praised Baines and Fellaini for their attitude, saying: "They are true professionals. They are true ambassadors of Everton."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd