‘Valencia don’t want to sell Alcacer’

Valencia sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch insists the club don’t want to sell Paco Alcacer, a target of Barcelona.

Pitarch was speaking at the presentation of Mario Suarez, signed on loan from Watford, but was asked about the striker, who is said to be in demand at Camp Nou and keen to go amid reports owner Peter Lim liked the offer from Catalonia.

“I’ve talked to [Alcacer] and told him Valencia aren’t willing to sell. I explained it clearly. He’s very clear. He’s happy and eager to start La Liga and to score goals. He hasn’t conveyed to me he wants to leave Valencia. Valencia doesn’t want to sell Paco Alcacer,” Pitarch said, Super Deporte reports.

“The situation with Diego Alves is absolutely different. He was promised a pay rise by the former President but we’re against the salary cap. We can’t meet the demands of the player. It’s not a lack of professionalism or anything.

“If he decided to stay it would be good news but I think with his age and contract that won’t happen and we have to understand that and admit it.

“We are over the financial control, that’s the reality. We can’t register four players and we need to reduce our wage bill significantly to sign a centre-back and that is the priority if any of the centre-backs we have leave. Obviously if they don’t, that’s not the case as it’s not logical to have five or six.

“We’ve signed a free agent, a loan with an option to purchase, Luis Nani for a very good price and Alvaro Medran because Real Madrid allowed us to and the player made the decision.”

Tags Paco Alcacer Pitarch
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