Helguera's Valencia Switch All But Confirmed
Ivan Helguera is rapidly slipping down the pecking order at the
Bernabeu and seems to be on his way out of Madrid. Valencia are
allegedly close to landing the player; even if that's not yet
confirmed, Madrid supremo Ramon Calderon has insisted that Helguera
will part from the Madrid side on good terms...
Real Madid president Ramon Calderon confirmed to AS that the player
wanted to leave, saying:
"It looks like he wants to leave and we are speaking to him. We
have four centre-backs this year and he understands that he needs
to seek a future elsewhere.
"But I would like to thank him for everything he has done for
Madrid. He was in a sticky situation last year and ended up playing
almost 30 games. He really gave us a lot."
Indeed, the arrival of Pepe and Metzelder puts even more pressure
on an already-burgeoning back line, with the likes of Cicinho
Torres, Sergio Ramos and Cannavaro still at the club.
With Schuster allegedly seeing Helguera as one of the weakest of
the bunch, the defender has wasted little time in seeking first
team football elsewhere, with Valencia leading the chase
Some local reporters claim that a move has already been completed,
but Los Che are yet to confirm his capture. If he does make it
there, he'll join former Getafe man Alexis as the second central
defender of the summer to arrive at the Mestalla, replacing the
departed Roberto Ayala.
Overall, Helguera played over 250 games for the Bernabeu side, 247
of them in La Liga. He gained three league titles and two Champions
League final victories during his seven year tenure in the first
team squad.
Certain other stoppers are set to hit the road this summer in La
Liga, with Valencia's squad not wanting for exceptions. Asier Del
Horno and Curro Torres are set to move on from the coastal club,
the former being linked with Barcelona just twelve months after
arriving back in Spain from Chelsea.