Marcelino: "If anyone wants Rodrigo the price is €120m"
The Valencia boss has again reiterated the club's stance over the in-demand Spain striker, pointing emphatically to his release clause.
Valencia coach Marcelino has stated the club’s position on star striker Rodrigo Moreno, informing any interested parties that only a bid matching the player’s release clause of 120 million euros will force Los Che to the negotiating table.
Rodrigo, who was part of Spain’s World Cup squad in Russia, has been linked with a move to both Real Madrid and Atlético, although Antoine Griezmann’s decision to remain at the Metropolitano and the addition of Thomas Lemar and Gelson Martins has in all likelihood ended any interest Diego Simeone held in the 27-year-old.
Rodrigo scored 19 goals in 44 appearances for Valencia last season, leading to admiring glances from within LaLiga and further afield, but Marcelino laid out the club’s intentions during a press conference in Liverpool on Sunday.
Marcelino: "If a club comes in and the player wants to leave then there isn’t much we can do"
“The idea, of course, is that we intend to start the season with Rodrigo; the club has stated that there is a release clause and anybody who wants to sign him will have to pay it. If a club comes in and the player wants to leave then there isn’t much we can do. But I’m not thinking about that and I’m not going to concern myself too much with it but if that happens there is nothing we can do to change the situation.”
Rodrigo bagged a brace in the pre-season friendly against Everton and is a key part of Valencia’s plans for the season, which include a Champions League campaign after finishing fourth in the league last year.
Marcelino has held talks with the Spain international and is confident that Rodrigo is happy in Valencia and wants to remain at Mestalla, but he is equally aware that until the transfer window closes on August 31 the possibility of a select group of clubs making an approach and offering a salary that Valencia cannot remains. The Mestalla board have a strict wage policy and the club’s financers are not willing to rock the boat by offering any single player an astronomical pay packet to stay at the club.
