Fellaini: I want to play Champions League football

Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini has admitted that he is desperate to play Champions League football during his career.

Fellaini has become the subject of much speculation about his future since the end of the season, with the Champions League winners and Spanish champions Real Madrid both credited with an interest in the Belgium international.

While the 24-year-old admits he wants to play at the highest level and it is a “shame” that the Toffees failed to qualify for European football next season, he is adamant he will be happy to remain at Goodison Park if no offers come in.

“If I have got to go, I will go, if not, I repeat, I am at Everton,” Fellaini told Belgian radio station RTBF. “I am ambitious; I want to play in the Champions League or in the Europa League. Last season we finished seventh with Everton, and we were not able to qualify us for Europe, which was a shame.

“If an ambitious club comes in for me? Why not, just to gain experience but I’m on vacation right now, I do not give [speculation] too much attention.

“Every year they say I’ll be transferred to the left or right. But I’m still at Everton!

“If it comes, I take, if it does not come, I stay at Everton, where I am happy, and where I still have a four-year contract.

“Everything goes fast in football. You can be transferred tomorrow, as you can be in one or two years. For now, I’m on vacation, I try to arrive fresh at the start of next season. If there are any concrete offers yet? If this is the case, I am not aware.”

If he were to join Chelsea, he would join a Belgian contingent at the club that is quickly heading for double figures.

“They talked about me in Chelsea?” Fellaini added. “If I had to go there, I would have several friends – [Eden] Hazard, [Romelu] Lukaku, [Kevin] De Bruyne, [Thibault] Courtois … There are many Belgians! It’s good for the national team.”