The Fans Football Blog3

Over the last week, Ginés Carvajal, the new agent of Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés (27), has given several interviews about the renewal of the Catalan goalkeeper whose contract expires in 2010 (read more here).


Catalan radio station RAC 1:
"We're waiting for the club to contact us. Víctor has another one and a half year left on his contract and the club should make a decision, it’s not up to us. Everyone knows how to negotiate. Eight months ago there were negotiations with board memebers and although I wasn't the agent of Valdés at that time, there didn't seem to be problems. But since then the issues hasn't been discussed.

It's not true that we're thinking about asking the same salary as Casillas is getting at Madrid. And that has nothing to do with the fact that there aren't contact for now. Víctor is very calm and we're not affected by what other players are doing. Both Víctor and I are thinking about Barça. Valdés is an extraordinary goalkeeper who's capable of playing at a big club like Barça. And I know that there are four or five other big clubs that are looking for a goalkeeper."

Madrid sports tabloid As:
"There's a lot of time and a lot of things to decide left, but we wish that the club officials invite us to come and sit around the table to discuss a possible contract upgrade. The player is very calm about the issue and focused on the excellent season he and his team-mates are having. The last thing we want is to stir things up. Víctor only thinks about winning the most trophies possible."

Catalan radio station Onda Cero Catalunya:
"As far as we are concerned, we're not pushing at all in this matter. He has one year and some months left on his contract and it's Barça who should decide when they want to act, they are the ones who should show they're interested to negotiate. While we have a contract, we're very calm. He feels valued at Barcelona, by the fans and by the press.

It's just that contracts are sometimes already outdated one or two years after they have been signed. And then you apparently need to wait until the end of the contract to update them. I don't think the problem is that the club doesn't know me. I'm not worried about people saying that. I'm not going to call Txiki to present myself. The press has made clear what is going on. Barça knows me enough, they know where to find me and what kind of person I am.

Our demands aren't very high and the fans shouldn't be worried. Barça is a big club, they have proven that by renewing the contracts of other players who also deserved that and I believe that when it's Víctor Valdés' turn, when they think the time is there, we'll almost certainly reach an agreement.

I don't think that Valdés wants to earn the same as Casillas but everybody should ask what he thinks he's worth, which could be the same as Casillas. Víctor Valdés is the goalkeeper of FC Barcelona, one of the best teams in the world, he's proving his worth for several years now. Víctor Valdés is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and I don't doubt that he's at the level of Iker Casillas, Buffon or any other goalkeeper.

If we don't receive any offer of Barcelona, I don't think there would be a lack of interested clubs. I know of three, four, five first-level teams that are interested in his services, despite the fact that we didn't give any sign that he could be available. At this moment we're not even allowed to talk with anyone. He wants to renew but if we wouldn't reach an agreement to renew, it's very likely his future lies abroad. In Spain there's only one other club that could sign a goalkeeper like that and it's impossible that he would join Madrid."

Catalan radio station Ona FM:
"The talks with Barcelona are totally stopped and the club doesn't seem to be in a hurry. I would just ask them to show some minimal interest without using the excuse that Valdés is asking an excessive fee like has been commented. I don't think the end of this season should have an influence on any decisions, it's about his whole career at the club."

pep's opinion:
very disappointing attitude of valdes, first by appointing a madridista as his new agent and then allowing the guy to stir things up at this stage of the season by giving interview after interview on the renewal while the club has made clear that all renewal negotiations (valdes, puyol, marquez, gudjohnsen, eto'o) are postponed until the end of the season because everyone should focus on football for the next two months. i don't know what has gotten into his head: or the club treated him very badly or he has an offer he cannot refuse and is trying to get thrown out or he's just stupid. whatever it is, it's time he acts and orders his agent to keep his mouth.

Read more:
Barcelona wants to renew Valdes
Valdes unaware of the club's renewal plans
Barcelona sounds out Juventus goalkeeper Buffon