Valencia were a club in crisis during the summer transfer window, selling their assets like a Castellon-based closing-down sale.
But while captain Dani Parejo was punted into the arms of local rivals Villarreal, Rodrigo Moreno joined the Leeds United revolution, and the burning promise of Ferran Torres will have to flame elsewhere following his controversial move to Manchester City, one player managed to survive the cull.
Jasper Cillessen.
In fact, when Everton came calling for the Dutch international goalkeeper in September (Marca), Valencia didn’t exactly act like a club hemorrhaging cash.
The 2019 Copa del Rey winners wanted £32 million and not a penny less.
It was a fee Everton were never going to pay in a million years, especially when Roma’s Swedish stopper Robin Olsen was available for nothing.
And with the benefit of hindsight, Valencia’s stance was nothing short of baffling.
Cillessen had hardly set the world alight during his debut season at the club, conceding 41 times in 30 games while making a number of high-profile blunders.
And, with the former Barcelona stopper now nailed to Javi Gracia’s bench, the club’s refusal to consider offers below that staggering £32 million looks even more odd.
Yes, Cillessen missed the first three La Liga matches of 2020/21 through injury. But, even since returning to full fitness, he has been unable to dislodge the in-form Jaume Domenech – Valencia’s player of the season so far.
Unless Domenech endures his own drop in form, there’s a chance Cillessen will be sitting on the sidelines until January at least.
With Valencia once again circling around a financial black hole, benching a man you could have sold for decent money is hardly a good look.
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