Man City play down link to Villa

Fa Barclaycard Premiership News
( 13 March 2009 )

English Premier League football News

Man City play down link to Villa
Manchester City have played down reports linking them with a move for Valencia striker David Villa.

The Spanish club have revealed that talks were held over a possible move but City have said that they took place late last year, and no bid was made.

"That's old news," City boss Hughes told BBC Radio 5 Live. "I think there was a meeting just before Christmas.

"We talked with Valencia about the price for a certain player, were told it and then walked away very quickly."

He added: "There was interest around Christmas time but we haven't revisited it since."

Valencia are in financial trouble and have conceded they may have to sell Villa to ease their concerns.

The 27-year-old was a key member of the Spain squad that triumphed at Euro 2008 and is Valencia's most valuable asset.

Vice-president Fernando Gomez told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser that the player would cost a "significant amount".

When Gomez was asked if Valencia chiefs had met with two representatives from Manchester City regarding the sale of Villa, he added: "Yes, it's true but they didn't make us any offer.

"The president Vicente Soriano asked for a significant amount and they didn't agree," he said.

No price tag was revealed but Gomez did confirm that despite Valencia's precarious financial predicament, Villa and fellow Spain star David Silva would not be allowed to go for a reduced price.

"I think they are two very important players, with a lot of quality and if we sell them, we are not going to sell them on the cheap," stated Gomez.

"I would like them both to stay but we cannot discard anything and any of them [the players] could leave at the end of the season."

The skilful Villa has been a target for other Premier League clubs, with Liverpool and Chelsea both linked to bids in recent seasons.

In January, Manchester City failed in a bid to take AC Milan's Brazilian playmaker Kaka to Eastlands and also recently denied rumours linking them to Barcelona forward Lionel Messi.
by bbcnews.