Valencia tell Nicolas Otamendi to hand in transfer request

Valencia president Amadeo Salvo has publicly responded to comments made by agent of defender Nicolas Otamendi, saying if the Argentine wants to leave the club he should formally request a transfer.

Yesterday, during an interview with Cadena SER, Eugenio Lopez said his client wants to leave Valencia in order to join a top club next season. The agent went on to say that despite contrary comments made by Salvo earlier this year, Otamendi had informed the club president that he wanted to leave the La Liga side.

“Nico wants to leave Valencia and is going to do everything possible to achieve it,” the player’s agent told Cadena SER.

“Nicolas told [executive president] Amadeo Salvo to his face two months ago, it surprises me that it is said that [sporting director] Rufete knew nothing. Or he lied or there is a lack of communication.”

Earlier today, Salvo was reached for comment in regards to the claims made by Otamendi’s agent.

“The only thing we have to say is that Otamendi is a Valencia player and if, as his agent says, he wants to leave, then he has to announce his wishes in public because he is an employee at Valencia,” Lopez told the Spanish publication AS. “After that, his agent will need to come along to the club and make an offer.

“As I have already mentioned before, the starting price will be 50 million euros (£36 million) and the payment will be decided by Valencia.”

Lopez went on to comment on reports which have stated that Valencia rejected a January bid for the player from Manchester United.

“We never received an offer for Otamendi,” the club president said. “And if you think I am lying, the club will verify that.

“Otamendi is not for sale. For that to change, the player first has to come out and publicly state that he wants to leave.”

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The defender is under contract until June 2019, and Valencia are keen for the Argentine to remain a part of owner Peter Lim’s long term plans.

However, it appears Otamendi is preparing to follow in the footsteps of former Valencia players Roberto Soldado and Jeremy Mathieu, who both made public statements about the club before ultimately joining Tottenham and Barcelona, respectively.

Manchester United will reportedly launch an official bid for the defender this week. However, the English club is not expected to trigger the player’s release clause. So United fans need to prepare themselves for weeks of back-and-forth posturing between the two clubs, as well as from Otamendi and his agent.

Valencia are currently in New York, where the team attended the United Nations headquarters for the formal signing of an agreement with UN Women. The club is a partner and the first global sports franchise to become ambassador for the UN agency that defends the rights of women and gender equality worldwide.

Later, the team will fly to Columbus, Ohio, where on Wednesday they will take part in an LFP World Challenge game against the MLS side Columbus Crew.

Otamendi is not part of the squad that traveled to the United States.