Roberto Martinez blasts John Terry for ‘illegal’ comments on John Stones

Chelsea have aggressively pursued John Stones’ signature this summer
John Terry, in a talkSPORT interview, called the defender ‘exceptional’
Everton manager Roberto Martinez has taken exception to Terry speaking so openly about his player

Published:
21:32 GMT, 6 August 2015

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Updated:
00:51 GMT, 7 August 2015

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Everton manager Roberto Martinez has branded Chelsea captain John Terry’s comments expressing admiration for John Stones ‘illegal’.

Chelsea have aggressively pursued Stones’ signature this summer, having bids of £20million and £26m rebuffed, to evoke memories of how Barcelona chased Cesc Fabregas in 2011 when he was an Arsenal player.

There came a point during that saga when several high-profile players spoke glowingly of Fabregas. The same has been true this time, with Gary Cahill and now Terry praising Stones. Terry, in a talkSPORT interview, called him ‘exceptional’.

Chelsea captain John Terry, in a talkSPORT interview, called Everton’s John Stones (right) ‘exceptional’

Chelsea have aggressively pursued Stones this summer, having bids of £20million and £26m rebuffed

Though he would not be drawn when quizzed over whether 21-year-old England defender Stones has told him he wants to join Chelsea, there was no disguising Martinez’s frustration when he spoke about Terry’s comments.

Martinez, who has ruled out complaining to the Premier League over Chelsea’s conduct, said: ‘You know that is illegal. The rules do not allow you to comment in that open manner on players who are registered at other clubs. It is disappointing.

‘We have a fantastic relationship between the two clubs and in the past we made our biggest investment in Chelsea.

‘We all know there are rules and regulations and it is something we don’t want to see when other clubs speak about your players. It is wrong and it shouldn’t happen.’

On Terry’s comments, Roberto Martinez has said: ‘The rules do not allow you to comment in that open manner on players who are registered at other clubs’

Manager Martinez also stressed: ‘John Stones is not for sale, we have said that many times’

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has suggested his club will not make any more signings this summer, but the feeling remains they will return with another offer for Stones. Martinez says he has no intention wasting time trying to second-guess what Chelsea will do but re-affirmed Everton’s position.

‘John Stones is not for sale, we have said that many times,’ Martinez stressed.

When asked if Everton would look to review Stones’ contract, Martinez said: ‘At the moment the focus is to bring in three players.’

Martinez wants to add a central defender, a striker and a No 10.

Everton have only signed Tom Cleverley and Gerard Deulofeu so far, but they have agreed a new deal with James McCarthy, who had attracted interest from Tottenham, to keep him at the club until 2020.

Martinez said: ‘The situation is James is not going anywhere. He’s a player we want to build our future around.’