Valencia shun Villa bid

Real made late move to sign striker after Robinho exit

Last updated: 2nd September 2008

David Villa Valencia

Villa: Staying at Valencia

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Valencia president Vicente Soriano has confirmed the club rejected a last-ditch bid from Real Madrid for David Villa.

The striker has been a long-term target for Real, but appeared to end any uncertainty about his future by signing a new contract at Valencia last week.

However, with Robinho heading out of Real to join Manchester City, reports in Spain claimed the Primera Liga champions would make a late move for Villa.

The approach from Real president Ramon Calderon was rejected and Soriano says he could not have sanctioned Villa's sale before the close of the transfer window.

"The president of Real Madrid called me and I made it clear to him that we aren't a selling club," Soriano told Las Provincias.

Emblem

"He might have heard the opposite, but that's not the case.

"He also told me that he regretted pressing for Villa on the last day of the market.

"I told him that this player is our emblem and we want him here. It was not about money.

"We told him [Calderon] that with four hours to go to the close of the transfer window we did not have any time to react.

"Moreover, how were we going to sell him after presenting his contract renewal?

"And we don't forget that the president had made a commitment to all the Valencia fans [that Villa would stay]."