Valencia Play Hardball With Madrid's Villa Offer

Spanish radio station Radio Marca claims that Valencia have rejected Real Madrid's first offer for star striker David Villa, but there could yet be more developments to come...

04-May-2008 3:26:19 PM

David Villa - Valencia-Racing (AFP)
Photo Gallery
Zoom
David Villa - Valencia-Racing (AFP)
The capital giants apparently offered €20m plus out-of-favour attacker Julio Baptista for Villa, who is said to be both ready to move on and considered a salable asset by his club.

However, while Valencia were initially open to the move, they rejected it based on Baptista's wage demands, which at €2.5m per year were deemed excessive by the cash-strapped club.

Nonetheless, Marca remain confident that Madrid are willing to come back with an improved offer, and the news source believes that a deal could be closed for the Spanish international within ten days.

Accord

First team coach Bernd Schuster is said to be happy with the club hierarchy's attempt to land El Guaje, and president Ramón Calderón will surely break the bank to do so.

Indeed, Calderón deems such signings as integral to his presidential strategy, given that Villa is a huge name in international football and his arrival would no doubt be lauded as ambitious by  much of the fanbase.

It could take a straight cash offer for the Mestalla side to part with their prize asset, though, and a figure of €35m is not out of the question.

Steve Michaels, Goal.com
Thank you for your comment!
Please enter your name
Please enter your location
Please share your comment!
Your Say (29)
 
 
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
goalshop magazine subscribe