Real Betis playmaker Benat Etxebarria will not be sold for a single penny under his £20million buy-out clause according to manager Pepe Mel.

It was thought that both Manchester City and Chelsea would look to strike a deal for the Spanish star in the January transfer window, but the pair have now been warned off with Mel’s recent comments.

Benat has been a sensation in La Liga this season causing both Real Madrid and Barcelona to join the race for him and also prompting him to earn regular national squad call ups.

If you can break into that Spanish national team midfield then you must be doing something right and City and Chelsea may yet go back with offers to Betis.

The Betis boss has conceded that if the £20million clause is activated then he will have no choice but to lose his main man, but anything less is unacceptable.

"Benat's clause is €20million and he will only leave for €20million," Mel told Spanish reporters as reported by Sky Sports.

"To sell him for anything less would be a disaster. The club must defend its position and Benat knows that. To be able to go the market and find a replacement, the only number is €20million.

"He has one more year left on his contract and he can fulfil that."