Dries Mertens Quotes

For you to even enquire about one player, he is expensive. You go to buy a right-back, a left-back, or a central defender, and he is expensive.

£25million or £30m or £20m - whether you are expensive or not, players are just players.

To be realistic, the big Dutch clubs cannot afford me. That's not because of my wages; it's the transfer fee.

To be honest I didn't have a clue that I was the most expensive Scottish player. It's not something that comes into my head.

When a striker does well it is normal that he is courted by other teams.

Now astronomical wages are making it very difficult to take somebody who might not even have a transfer fee attached to them, because of the net value that they want and the net value that they're worth.

Juventus rejected an offer from Barcelona for me. It was a big offer, and that means I'm an important player for the club, and I have to thank them for that.

When I came to Liverpool, in a €20 million transfer, I was expensive.

Roma must have been mad to sell Mo Salah. Either that or they really needed the money.

I can bring Neymar to Real Madrid.

There is some right old rubbish talked about Gareth Bale's time with me at Tottenham. Was I ever going to sell Bale? No. Was I going to loan him? No.

The Belgian fans expect a lot of me in the Belgium team. It is normal - they don't forget that I cost Euros 40m. I totally understand.

Do I hope Batshuayi comes to Tottenham? Yes, of course. He has a lot of qualities.

It is nice to be the most expensive Dutchman, and it is nice for my agent and for Ajax. But it does not matter to me whether I cost €5m or €150m or €200m. I just need to make sure that I do my own thing.

Everybody had heard the rumours that Real wanted to sign James Rodriguez after the World Cup, and I knew that they were going to sell me to make room for him.

When you hear Liverpool want you, you call your agent back in about five seconds.

I am not a mercenary. Milan was my home. They made a good deal, though. They signed me for 10 million euros and sold me for 42 million euros.

In the face of a big offer, no player is not for sale.

I was never close to signing for Manchester United, no.

I think every club in the world would like to have David Alaba.

In 2006 I ended up at Chelsea on a free transfer, so Bayern did not see a euro for me.

Juventus made a big offer for me, I think it was around €20 million. Stuttgart were thinking about it, but I was the one who declined. I thought it was better for me to stay there and grow as a player before making a big move.

People do focus on the transfer fee, but that's football.

Torres is a fantastic striker, and I think it was difficult for Liverpool to sell him because he's such an important player for them.

It's really flattering to know that a club of Real Madrid's stature is interested in me.