Reported Aston Villa and Sheffield United target Ante Budimir is keen to leave Real Mallorca and teammate Abdon Prats believes the club should respect his decision, as reported by Diario de Mallorca.
The 29-year-old Croatian certainly didn’t deserve to finish last season in the La Liga relegation zone.
With 13 goals in the Spanish top flight, including two against Barcelona, Budimir almost single-handedly saved Mallorca from the drop before his side eventually succumbed to an immediate return to the Segunda.
Now, according to Marca, £14 million-rated Budimir wants out.
Aston Villa and Sheffield United are both keen to sign a number nine before the 5 October transfer deadline and the journeyman forward, who will turn 30 next year, may see this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to seal a move to Europe’s most high-profile division.
Mallorca coach Luis Garcia Plaza has insisted Budimir won’t play for the club again as he looks to force a way out – although teammate Prats has taken a more sympathetic approach to the situation.
“We respect your decision but, until a footballer leaves the club, he must give his best for the team and his teammates,” says a forward who could actually benefit from Budimir’s departure by becoming the club’s number-one striker. “Budimir is an example and we have to respect his decisions.”
Standing 6ft 3in and with a fearsome leap in his locker, it would be easy to pigeonhole Budimir as a one-dimensional targetman.
But the classy Croatian is more Dimitar Berbatov than Duncan Ferguson, possessing a lovely first touch and the ability to turn half-chances into subtle finishes.
Budimir was left out of Mallorca’s goalless draw against Espanyol last weekend.
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