Valencia fire sale: "Everyone knows our squad is weak"

1:42pm on Friday 11th September 2020
By Martin Macdonald

Valencia boss Javi Gracia has lamented the lack of transfer activity since taking over as head coach, as he copes with a number of key stars leaving.

Dani Parejo and Francis Coquelin were sold to Villarreal for cut-price fees, while Ferran Torres and Rodrigo were sold to Manchester City and Leeds respectively.

Other first-teamers have also been linked with moves and it has left the Valencia squad extremely thin ahead of the new season which starts this weekend.

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"The squad is weakened, as everyone can see," he said ahead of Valencia's match against Levante on Sunday.

"Five important players have left, and we are hoping for replacements which I was told would be coming in before I joined. But none have arrived and we are starting the season."

When asked if he felt cheated by the Valencia board's failure to bring in new players, Gracia was diplomatic in his response, but wonders why certain deals have not got over the line.

He added: "To this day, there is no time to be able to feel like that [cheated].

"We have intention of reinforcing the squad and fulfilling what we have been promised. [But] I have my doubts and I am sceptical because players who could have been important and with whom talks were advanced, have not been finalised."

Los Che finished ninth in La Liga last season.

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