Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes should earn as much as his Real Madrid counterpart Iker Casillas, claims his agent.
Valdes’ contract expires in the summer of 2010 but negotiations with the club over an extension have stalled.
The 27-year-old has made several high-profile blunders over the past couple of seasons but Gines Carvajal insists his client deserves to be rated alongside Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon as the world’s best goalkeepers.
“Everyone asks for what they deserve,” he told Onda Cero Cataluna. “Victor must get as much as Casillas.
“Victor Valdes is the goalkeeper of Barcelona football club – one of the best clubs in the world. He’s been showing that for a couple of years and he is at the same level as Iker Casillas, Buffon or anyone else.
“I have no doubt about that.”
Valdes has been at Barca since joining their youth team in 1995 and Carvajal is confident he will remain there for many years to come.
“For our part there’s no rush in the matter,” he added. “He still has a year and a few months on his contract and it’s Barca who have to keep an eye on the time left because it was them that started the interest in negotiating.
“While we still have a contract, we are very calm. Barca are a great club, they’ve showed that by renewing other players’ contracts who also deserved it.
“I understand that when it’s Victor Valdes’ turn, if they believe it’s right, we’ll come to an agreement – that’s almost certain.”
Carvajal is certain the player would only move abroad if he was to leave the Nou Camp.
“If we don’t get an offer, I’m sure there won’t be a shortage of teams interested in him,” he continued. “There are four or five teams of a really top-class level who would be interested in him. That’s sure.
“In Spain there’s only one other club that could get a goalkeeper of this level. I understand that if Valdes has to leave next year that it will be abroad.”
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