Vicente and Fernandes On Way Out, Villa Next?

By: Cesar | December 20th, 2007

Things are moving quickly at the Mestalla.

First, check out this video of David Albelda’s press conference today. I tell you, most Valencia fans will get a lump in their throat seeing the captain shed tears over leaving the Mestalla. Sad.

But life moves on. And Ronald Koeman’s housecleaning continues.

First, sporting director Miguel Ángel Ruiz is saying the housecleaning at the Mestalla is entirely Koeman’s idea. “These decisions are totally and exclusively the coach’s decisions.” So basically, his hands are clean … whatever.

Now, word that beloved winger Vicente along with summer signings Manuel Fernandes and Nikola Zigic are about to get the boot.

Wow. Already?

This on the heels of Angulo getting the cut yesterday, ending a 10-year spell with the club.

Albelda, former Spain keeper Canizares and Angulo are three of the club’s most influential, experienced and successful players.

All three were part of the side that won the league title in 2002 and did the league and UEFA Cup double two years later when Rafa Benitez was in charge.

The 38-year-old Canizares has been with Valencia since 1998, Albelda, who is 30 and has won 50 caps, graduated from the youth system as did Angulo.

Further along, David Villa’s agent, Jose Luis Tamargo, told MARCA, “Villa wants to be on a winning team, not a reconstructing one.”

So David Villa may bail!

So in three days, here’s who is supposedly leaving:

David Albelda
Canizares
Fernandes
Zigic
Angulo
Vicente
David Villa

That’s a lot of players. Who’s coming in??

As for the first two to get the ax, Santi had this to say: “The other day, I said that I was 99% certain that I wanted to retire with Valencia, and I’ve likely played my last game for them, as they’ve decided that. Maybe this is the farewell that God had planned for me.”

An icon like Santi deserved a little better. True, he probably shouldn’t be starting anymore. But a 38-year old ‘keeper who played a wicked match against Chelsea a week ago and who is a cagey veteran deserved a little better, no? What a slap in the face.

Word is he may try to play in the USA’s MLS league … I’m already cleaning my apartment so he can stay with me.

As for our captain Albelda, he said, “The club’s leadership has no class.”

“I’m devastated because this was the last thing I expected after all I have achieved at this club,” Valencia captain Albelda told a news conference on Thursday.

“They haven’t explained why they have done this. Koeman just said he didn’t have any faith in my leadership on or off the pitch and I responded that after 20 days in charge of the team he didn’t know me well enough.

“He has no idea the sort of effort it took for me to get here.”

“After what we’ve achieved here and growing with the club, I can die in peace,” continued the 30-year-old.

“I leave with a clear conscience. I always did my best and was always willing to help.”

Unlike Santi, Albelda has no desire to quit football.

“I was absolutely shocked because it’s so unexpected, after all I’ve been through, but I foresee more days to come,” he began.

“The directors at this club have no class or status to humiliate me like this. I have received no explanation from the president or anyone in his circle. I am leaving with my head held high and my conscience clear.”

“Don’t humiliate me. I’ll always be remembered in Valencia as a humble friend who helped out.”

You will. Too bad it turned so sour so quickly.
More on these two at a later time. They’re Valencia legends and deserve our praise for what they’ve done here.

We played a game yesterday. Won. 2-1 in the King’s Cup against Real Unión de Irun. FINALLY … two goals from the departing Zigic. Yay.