Paco Jemez has denied reports he flew to Singapore to meet Valencia owner Peter Lim with a view to taking over at Mestalla next season.
A report in AS claims Valencian radio programme ‘La Tastienda’ suggested the current Rayo Vallecano boss had recently been in the Far East, where he reached a verbal agreement with Lim and football agent Jorge Mendes to take charge of Los Che this summer.
However, at a Press conference called by Jemez himself, he strongly refuted the story and even showed his passport to journalists in the Rayo Press room in an effort to show he had not been in the Asian country.
“Rumours linking me with this team or that are normal, I understand them, but something I won’t stand for is lies,” said the 46-year-old.
“I’ve been linked with a lot of teams over the past four years and when people report that I have a relationship with Valencia that’s one thing, but to say I’ve been in Singapore and met Peter Lim or Jorge Mendes is totally false. I’m sick of these lies.
“I met the Rayo President on Monday to tell him that, if they want, I could be an alternative to stay at the club, be it in the Primera or Segunda.
“If there is no possibility of continuing then I’ll pack my suitcase and go.”
Rayo sit second bottom of the table and will be relying on other results in the final round of fixtures this weekend if they are to remain in the top flight. Nonetheless, Jemez has gained a host of admirers for his attacking philosophy on meagre resources and is constantly touted with a move to a bigger club.
Valencia, meanwhile, have had a disappointing season by their own exacting standards. Despite Pako Ayesteran guiding the team to mid-table respectability since taking over from the axed Gary Neville, the feeling within the club is that a change of coach could soon be on the agenda.
