Las Palmas rule out signing free agent amid links to Samir Nasri

Published on: 23 February 2018

Las Palmas coach Paco Jemez does not want to upset the balance of the team by adding a free agent.

Las Palmas will not sign Samir Nasri or any other free agent to replace the departed Jonathan Viera, coach Paco Jemez said.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) granted Las Palmas permission to sign a player outside the transfer window after the club sold Viera to Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan on Monday.

Nasri, the former Manchester City and Arsenal winger who has been without a club since leaving Turkish side Antalyaspor in January by mutual consent, was reported to be joining Las Palmas.

"The issue is closed," Jemez said in a news conference when asked about Viera's potential replacement.

"In this changing room, we have many valuable alternatives to replace Viera. The easiest solution would have been to bring a player but I don't want any further surprises. I always thought that in situations like this it's when you see the value of people. It's the right situation for everyone to prove what our worth is. Another teammate will have to replace Viera."

Jemez and Las Palmas were reluctant to sell star player Viera, who scored four goals and set up three more in 23 league starts this season for the Canary Islands-based club, but Viera was keen to leave because the offer from China was too good to turn down.

Las Palmas are 18th in La Liga, two points adrift of Levante, who are 17th and hold the last position of safety. They visit Leganes on Saturday before hosting league leaders Barcelona on March 1.

Adriana Garcia is a Valencia-based football writer who covers La Liga for ESPN FC.

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Source: espn.co.uk

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