Returning La Liga outfit Espanyol have on Monday announced an altogether considerable blow on the personnel front.
This comes in the form of confirmation that the club’s star striker has come to the decision to move on with immediate effect.
The player in question? Martin Braithwaite.
Frontman Braithwaite, for his part, was present at Espanyol’s training centre in the early hours of Monday, to go through a round of medical tests alongside the rest of his teammates.
In turn, it was considered as a complete bolt from the blue when, mere hours later, confirmation was forthcoming that the Dane ‘is no longer a blue and white player’.
Braithwaite, it has been announced, has made the call to activate a release clause in his contract.
As much was to become active in the case of the 33-year-old – fresh off a 22-goal season with the club – helping Espanyol to promotion back to the top-flight of Spanish football.
He can therefore now, for all intents and purposes, be considered a free agent.
As per a statement across Espanyol’s website and social media platforms:
‘Danish footballer Martin Braithwaite has informed RCD Espanyol that he is exercising the release clause included in his contract and, therefore, is no longer a blue and white player. Braithwaite had one more year of contract with the perico club, but he has taken advantage of the clause included in his contract and has decided to leave Espanyol. RCD Espanyol thanks Braithwaite for his professionalism and wishes him luck in his new professional challenges.’
Conor Laird | GSFN