With Valencia cashing in on pretty much every coveted member of their La Liga squad, the cynics among you may argue Maxi Gomez is still plying his trade at the Mestalla because no-one wanted to buy him.
The barrel-chested Uruguay international was one of the hottest strikers in Spain during his time at Celta Vigo, a remorseless penalty-box poacher who bowled over centre-halves like a bull rampaging through a room full of antique vases.
But two years in the energy-sapping Sarlacc Pit of a football club that’s Valencia appears to have taken its toll. Gomez’s confidence looks shot, with his goalscoring record taking a tumble too.
In 60 La Liga matches, the South American has scored just 16 times. Only two of those have come in his last 15 games.
According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers showed an interest in Valencia’s £40 million record signing ahead of the January transfer window before deciding, in the end, he would cost too much money (Super Deporte).
Given Gomez currently looks a fading shadow of his former Celta self, a mirage of a centre-forward offering little in the final third, few at the Emirates or Molineux will wish they could turn the clock back.
And, according to Marca, Valencia coach Javi Gracia has grown increasingly concerned about Gomez’s form too.
PlazaDeportiva believes a “lack of attitude” in training hasn’t gone down well with the former Watford coach either, with the striker dropped to the bench for the recent clash with Granada.
“Two difficult years await us and there will be additional sales of players,” Valencia chief executive Anil Murthy, who oversaw the departures of Rodrigo Moreno, Ferran Torres, Dani Parejo and more last summer, told a shareholders meeting in January, via AS.
It’s hard to imagine anyone will be knocking loudly on the door for Gomez as things stand, however.
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