Martinez: Guangzhou move best for all concerned

Jackson Martinez says his transfer to Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao was the best for all concerned after his disappointing spell with Atletico Madrid. Martinez arrived at the Vicente Calderon for €35m in July last year but failed to replicate his form for Porto in La Liga, scoring just three times for Diego Simeone's side in 23 appearances.

Published : Feb 03, 2016 16:37 IST , Madrid

The Chinese Super League club secured a deal for the Colombia international on Tuesday for a fee of €42million.
The Chinese Super League club secured a deal for the Colombia international on Tuesday for a fee of €42million.
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The Chinese Super League club secured a deal for the Colombia international on Tuesday for a fee of €42million.

Jackson Martinez says his transfer to Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao was the best for all concerned after his disappointing spell with Atletico Madrid.

The Chinese Super League club secured a deal for the Colombia international on Tuesday for a fee of €42million.

Martinez arrived at the Vicente Calderon for €35m in July last year but failed to replicate his form for Porto in La Liga, scoring just three times for Diego Simeone's side in 23 appearances.

"It has been an honour for me to be a part of this club, but I think the time has come to start another stage in my career," the 29-year-old said to the club's official website. "We have talked a lot in the last days and we have agreed that this is the best for all of us."

"National glory"

Martinez joins Luiz Felipe Scolari's side as a replacement for Elkeson, who was sold to Shanghai SIPG in what was described by the club as a boost to "the national glory", with Sven-Goran Eriksson's side competing in the AFC Champions League.

Guangzhou, meanwhile, have found themselves in hot water with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after being found guilty of a number of breaches of media and marketing regulations in relation to the AFC Champions League final in November.

The club has been fined $160,000 and ordered to play their first match of 2016 on February 24 behind closed doors, while the Chinese Football Association has been fined $10,000, and both have been warned over their future conduct.

"The breaches included filming the opponent's closed training session, conducting an unauthorised post-match ceremony, infringing upon the commercial rights of AFC sponsors and numerous violations in relation to the organisation of the second leg, including significant safety and security failures," an AFA statement said.

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