Crystal Palace’s Premier League goalkeeper Vicente Guaita admits that he would jump at the chance to re-join La Liga giants Valencia at some point in the future, speaking to AS.
It’s a case of ‘old with the out, in with the new’ at Selhurst Park. Emphasis on the ‘old’.
During the summer of 2021, Crystal Palace said farewell to a whole host of 30-something veterans, including Gary Cahill, Pierre Van Aanholt and Wayne Hennessey, replacing them with a throng of exciting, technically-gifted youngsters.
You can probably expect more of the same this time around too. Cheikhou Kouyate, Martin Kelly, James Tomkins, James McArthur and Nathaniel Clyne are all facing an uncertain future in South London.
Guaita, meanwhile, is out of contract in the summer of 2023, although there is a one-year extension clause in his deal.
And while the long-serving Spaniard remains one of the first names on Patrick Vieira’s team-sheet despite being left out of the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea, few will be surprised if it transpires that Palace are in the market for a younger model.
Is Vicente Guaita leaving Crystal Palace?
“I have one year left on my contract and an optional (further year) at Palace,” says Guaita, who joined from Getafe in 2018. “I’m very comfortable in the Premier League. It’s amazing how you live football here.
“I have less and less years left (in my career) and I don’t know if I will be able to return to Spain. Speaking honestly, I would like to return to Valencia. I think I could have played for many years at Valencia.
“How can I not want to return to Valencia?”
Born in the Castellon city, Guaita started his career at his hometown club, making 76 La Liga appearances between 2018 and 2014 before losing his place to Brazilian penalty king Diego Alves.
Palace tried to sign a new goalkeeper a couple of months ago but missed out to top-flight rivals Watford for £6 million Nigeria international Maduka Okoye.
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