Valencia president Fernando Soriano has criticised Real Madrid for trying to pressurize the club into selling David Villa.
Reports suggest that Madrid made one informal offer of €40m for the leading scorer at Euro 2008, but Soriano believes that Real were planting stories in the Spanish press as a means of intimidating Valencia into selling.
“Madrid has every right to make us an offer up until the final day of the transfer window, but I have not liked the way they have done things,” he told reporters.
“This is a clear message to the world of football and the major clubs out there that Valencia will not be intimidated by anyone and that we are ready to press on with our plans.”
Villa signed a new deal at Mestalla that will keep him at the club until 2014 and Soriano paid tribute to the player’s character.
“Valencia and David Villa are going to be together for many years and for me it is an honour that the best forward in Europe is staying with us,” he continued.
“Above all the words there are facts. We are working on a sporting project with faith and determination and we need credibility and ambition.
“We need more players like David that command respect on the pitch and in the stands.”
