Premiership clubs have already had their (faint) hopes of signing one star of the Spanish triumph at Euro 2008 dashed this week, and now it looks like the door is firmly shut on another.
Spanish newspaper Marca reports that David Silva will be staying at Valencia next season, having dismissed any talk of a move to Barcelona.
David Silva evaded discussing the interest of FC Barcelona and recalled that he belongs to Valencia. Concerning a possible transfer to another club, he specified, “I belong to Valencia”. [Marca]
Is there any mention of the Premiership there? The British redtops would have you believe that the only destination for Europe’s star performers is Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool. Have a good few seasons, make a name for yourself and then you are funnelled into the all-consuming Premiership moneymaking machine. It spits you out the other end £100,000 a week richer in any club shirt of your choice (as long as it’s a top four one). And actually, even if you have a defect, you can still get your £100,000 a week and an attractive Newcastle or West Ham shirt.
The only realistic move for David Silva this year would have been to Barcelona, a club who are selling off their biggest assets and rebuilding a team for the future. Silva is very much a family man and now a Spanish hero to boot, so he has little reason to leave the country at the moment. The riches of England cannot compete with the romance of Spain, hence why the best player in the world wants to leave the best club in the world. Silva signed a 7-year contract just last season and so the transfer fee required would be even out of the reach of Roman Abramovich’s millions.
Valencia’s catastrophic campaign means that he will not be playing Champions League football this year, but at 22 years old Silva has plenty of time left to achieve that goal once again. In ex-coach Ronald Koeman’s time at the club confidence was all but destroyed, but with four players returning home with Euro 2008 winners’ medal round their necks, perhaps next season will see a change in fortunes for Los Che.
So with David Silva off the market, whom do top-four fans turn to next?