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Football

31st May 2022

Elche striker posts awkward goodbye to club despite having contract renewed

Callum Boyle

Elche striker club

Goodbye… hello again

Elche striker Pere Milla was waving goodbye to his teammates before greeting them again just a few moments later after it emerged that he had his contract renewed.

Milla said goodbye to the Elche fans in an Instagram post

Milla scored eight goals for the Spanish side as they avoided relegation from La Liga. The forward thought that would be his last contribution to the club and therefore penned an emotional goodbye to the supporters in a post on Instagram as he prepared to leave on a free transfer.

He said: “Unfortunately, I’m sorry to write these lines, but it’s time to do it. At the moment it’s time to say goodbye to what is my home.

“I arrived in June 2019 and after completing three exciting seasons, I can only thank Nico Rodríguez and Dani Carmona for opening the doors of Elche CF for me. I was absolutely right to trust you for this project.

“It’s been three marvellous years but also with very hard moments.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CeMEfTIIKil/

Milla also denied that he was leaving the club for “economic reasons” saying: “Money is important, but values and forms for me are more. Hopefully we can sit back and listen to each other again.”

Club owner insists that Milla will stay at the club

Elche striker club

However, there is now confusion as Elche believe the 29-year-old will be remaining at the club. The club say this is because their survival in the Spanish top-flight meant he had triggered a clause in his contract to extend his stay for another year.

Club owner Christian Bragarnik said the contract clearly states that Milla’s stay has been extended for a further year and therefore he will remain an Elche player.

“I understand that they want to defend their interests, but I have to defend those of the club. For me, the contract is very clear,” he said.

Elche narrowly avoided relegation after losing three of their final four games of the season, but their fate was sealed in the penultimate game of the campaign after results went in their favour.

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