Valencia President Confirms That David Villa Is Not For Sale

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Valencia president Manuel Llorente has confirmed that David Villa is not for sale this summer and los Che will do everything to hold on to him.

The comments come following a meeting with Villa's agent Jose Luis Tamargo this morning from which he emerged and explained that there has been a u-turn.

This decision has now been explained by Llorente, who spoke at a press conference this afternoon.

"I want to confirm the decision that we have taken to not sell Villa. We have the made the decision after days of deliberating and after weighing up the advantages and disadvantages of any deal. Villa is the best forward in Europe and we have the good luck that he is at Valencia.

"We will fight so he stays with us. He is a very important player. Valencia need these types of players who show and have shown their commitment each day. The fans know we will count on having a competitive team and competing to the highest level," Marca quote him as saying.

"When I arrived here I found that some conversations had been initiated. From then on there have been doubts about whether to sell Villa. I can assure you that David Villa has never been sold. They are rumours and we work in reality. Nothing more."

Despite his declarations though, Llorente did leave some doubt in his speech, declaring that there is a chance he could still go.

"I cannot say that if a huge scandalous offer came in we will not sell, but I wanted to put an end to the rumours. We have never been auctioning nor offering the player," he said.

"We are not Real Madrid nor Barcelona, we are Valencia. Everyone is comfortable with this in Valencia. We will make it so. We will do everything so Villa is happy. I understand that Villa is young, with ambitions and at times occasions can appear that cause you to doubt."

The president also revealed that he has spoken to Barcelona president Joan Laporta but "we did not speak about figures, because we only spoke about them with Real Madrid".

"The conversations with Florentino [Perez] were friendly, with mutual respect that the two clubs should have. This morning I told the president of Madrid the decision. We have done it because sporting wise it is right and we must do it. We are building capital and we must show the fans we can do it all," he mused.

"We work to maintain all the players that are ours. We have already told [David] Silva that he is not going to leave. I am not a fortune teller but we do what we have to care and maintain. For me, it is easy to take care."

James Walker-Roberts, Goal.com