Nicolas Otamendi is in Chile preparing ahead of Saturday’s Copa América final where Argentina face host nation, Chile in Santiago. Once the curtain comes down on the competition, Otamendi will have the task of resolving his playing future and ideally needs to have this matter resolved before July 27, when the player is expected to report back with Valencia for pre-season training. The Argentinean defender is a main target for Real Madrid if Sergio Ramos leaves the club and Otamendi is also being courted by both Manchester clubs, United and City, respectively.
With yesterday’s mass administrative departures (Salvo, Rufete and Ayala) from Mestalla there is a degree of social turmoil at the club and the possible departure of one of the club’s best players has played its part. Salvo, in his departure from the club last night, cited an incompatibility situation with head coach, Nuno and he feels that Jorge Mendes is behind Peter Lim’s constant support for the Portuguese coach and also feels that the agent his moving behind the scenes in unsettling Otamendi.
Eugenio López, Otamendi’s agent, claims to have spoken on more occasions with Jorge Mendes than any other Valencia employee surrounding the defender’s future. Salvo claimed recently that Lim would demand “at least 50 million euro for Otamendi”, his buy-out clause and this was reiterated yesterday evening by club president, Layhoon Chan. The Valencia faithful would start to worry if it transpires that Otamendi was to leave for anything less than this stipulated figure. Peter Lim and Florentino Perez maintain a good working relationship and negotiation for a move for the Argentinean player would not expect to be a fraught situation.