Fans might have been expecting to hear David Villa’s name when Valencia and Real Madrid announced they had come to an agreement over a player, but it’s Raul Albiol’s name that was called after the two La Liga clubs came to an agreement for the services of the 23 year old Spanish International centerback.
With the recent financial situation it’s found itself in within the last couple of months and being told initially it needed to find 75 Million Euros by June, Spanish side Valencia took the first step in getting the club back on track and paying player salaries after agreeing to a 50 Million Euro loan ($67 Million) from local business group Fomento Urbano de Castellon.
Due to the dire financial situation and being told they must come up with 75 Million Euro by June, Spanish club Valencia have admitted they might be forced to sell off they’re best player, with Spain International David Villa being at the top of the list despite signing a six year contract taking him to 2014 just last August.
After a very early wake up call and having to fly east to Charlotte before getting on a flight for LAX, I headed down to the FSC studios for the return leg of the Spanish Super Cup between Valencia and Real Madrid at The Santiago Bernabeu..
What an unbelievable game and by far the best I’ve ever been a part of.
And now I go to sleep.
Finally done with a crazy three days that started with a trip to Houston via Burbank and Phoenix, then the RSL @ Houston match, no sleep afterwards, a 5.30am flight to Burbank via Houston and Phoenx, a 12pm call time and then ending with calling the Spanish Super Cup first leg at The Mestalla between Copa del Rey Champions Valencia and La Liga Champions Real Madrid.
Via Goal
VALENCIA CF 3-2 REAL MADRID CF
0-1 van Nistelrooy 13′
1-1 Mata 55′
2-1 Villa 58′
2-2 van Nistelrooy 67′
3-2 Vicente 80′
Valencia (Emery): Hildebrand; Miguel, Albiol, Alexis, Moretti; Albelda, Baraja, Joaquín, Silva, Mata; Villa.
Real Madrid (Schuster): Casillas; Michel Salgado, Javi García, Heinze, Miguel Torres; Van der Vaart, Diarrà, De la Red, Robinho; Raúl, Van Nistelrooy.
Now I sleep.
Got in around 9pm, headed over to Cabo’s for a couple fish tacos and went straight to bed.
Woke up and hit the gym at 7.30am to get a little work out in before sitting in front of my miniature television watching Argentina v Holland. Production meetings at 9.30am, so I think I’m going to miss the end of the second half.
Real Salt Lake at Houston tonight in a battle for 1st place in the West and then back to bed before a 5.30am flight to get back to Los Angeles for tomorrow afternoon’s Spanish Super Cup (think Spanish Community Shield) between La Liga winner Real Madrid and King’s Cup (Copa del Rey) winner Valencia at 1 pm West Coast.
Former Captain and Spanish International David Albelda has finally been told that he will be able to leave the Mestalla after an ongoing dramatic affair which started with Dutchman and former Valencia Head Coach Ronald Koeman back in December of 2007.
Along with Miguel Angel Angulo and Santiago Canizares, Albelda was first informed that he’d be dropped from the squad and forced to train alone on the side, without explanation. With the blessing of the former president, Koeman went on with business as usual until getting the sack in April after a 5-1 loss Bilbao. Koeman had taken over the former Champions League club at 4th place and subsequently drove them to 16th place, two points atop the Relegation Zone.
He went from stud keeper to training buddy under Ronald Koeman and now it looks as if Santiago Canizares has walked out of Valencia.
Loyalty, whether from the player side to the club or the President to his coach, always has an extremely short time line.
I’m gonna go with the 38 year old Canizares to Bayern Munich. Mark it.
image via SkySports
