Moutinho not for sale

• omgukilledkenny

  14 Jul 09, 19:10

  Moutinho not for sale

  Everton and Real told midfielder is 'indispensible'

  

  Portuguese giants Sporting have ruled out the possibility of selling captain Joao Moutinho.

  The Portugal midfielder has been a long-term target of Premier League side Everton, while lavish-spending Real Madrid have also been linked with a move.

  Sporting have rejected approaches from Everton for Moutinho, who is understood to have a release clause in his contract in the region of £31million, in the past.

  The 22-year-old is thought to be viewed as the player who can help Everton break into the top four in England, but Sporting insist he is not for sale.

  "Joao is essential to our project. He is captain and we are not interested in the sale," the club's president Jose Eduardo Bettencourt told Portuguese media.

  "Rumours are expected at this time, but Sporting have a very made a very clear decision - Moutinho is indispensable."

   

  skysports.