Valencia boss Javi Gracia has confirmed he will stay at the club but only due to his contractual obligation, as outlined by Marca.
Only appointed this summer, the boss – who did not take training on Tuesday – had been instructed to return to the club facilities to take the subsequent session, and if he wants to leave the club he will need to pay €3m personally to do so.
“To avoid rumours, I want to make it clear that I am at the disposition of the owner and president,” Gracia told the EFE press agency, as per Marca.
“I was made aware from my arrival that the squad was undergoing construction, but I did not believe that there would be no signings whatsoever coupled with so many exits.
“I will do the best I can to get the maximum level of performance from this squad and bring as much happiness as possible to our supporters and do them proud.”
Gracia’s ire is directed towards the club for failing to land any new players in the transfer window whilst a raft of star players exited the Mestalla.
The club have gained a credible but unspectacular seven points from their opening five La Liga matches but there is a fear that the situation will worsen significantly with a lack of investment in the squad.
As outlined by Marca on Tuesday, Gracia met with the club chairman Anil Murthy and his representatives as he sought clarification on why none of his requested targets – or indeed anyone else – was signed.
Gracia had penned a two-year contract at the club through to the summer of 2022 and is the seventh permanent manager since owner Peter Lim took control of the club.
The exits of club captain Dani Parejo and Francis Coquelin to Villarreal from Los Che were confirmed this summer, following the exit of star winger Ferran Torres to Manchester City while striker Rodrigo Moreno has joined Leeds.
Furthermore, Cristiano Piccini has joined Atalanta on loan, Ezequiel Garay did not have his contract renewed and the loan deals for Jaume Costa and Alessandro Florenzi both expired.
Reports mean that the financial uncertainty means Los Che must slash their wage budget by a whopping 40 percent for the current campaign, with the club’s financial situation explaining the gutting of the squad.
