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BBC Sport Online: Football: Europe


Saturday, 7 July, 2001, 12:39 GMT 13:39 UK

Mendieta fuels Real rumours



Gaizka Mendieta
Valencia midfielder Gaizka Mendieta has fuelled speculation that he wants to leave the club by refusing to answer specific questions about his future.

The Spanish international has been linked with a move to Real Madrid after their president Florentino Perez admitted the club were interested in signing the player.

And the 27-year-old did nothing to deny the rumours, opting instead to make statements that were open to interpretation.

He said: "In football it is always difficult to know how your career is going to develop.

"There are always a lot of changes at the end of every season and you are never sure where you are going to end up."

Valencia president Pedro Cortes said on Friday that Mendieta would not leave the unless another club paid his buy-out clause of £35.8m.

"Mendieta is part of Valencia and he loves the club," Cortes said.

"He may have been made some very lucrative offers from other clubs - I don't know.

"But what I do know is that if they do not pay his buy-out clause he will not be leaving.

"Mendieta has to be shown affection and respect because he is very important for this club."


Related to this story:
Real set to unveil Zidane (07 Jul 01 | Europe)

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