Helguera's Valencia Contract Mutually Terminated

Ever since Unai Emery arrived at Valencia this summer it has been clear that he knows which players he wants, and which he doesn't, and unfortunately for Iván Helguera, he was one he didn't want.

The former Real Madrid man has today parted ways with Valencia according to AS and the official Valencia website has a message offering their thanks and best wishes to the player for the future.

Helguera becomes the second player to leave Valencia in this way this season after Timo Hildebrand left the club recently following few opportunities to impress.

During his time with Valencia the defender played a total of 43 games in all competitions, but only six in the current season, a primary reason for him leaving probably.

Whilst the termination will cost the club a fairly sizeable amount of money, somewhere around the €4 million mark reportedly, it does rid Los Che of one of their higher earners and also makes a space free in the squad.

The final straw in the Helguera saga seems to have come just this week when the defender modified a phrase written on the black-board by Unai Emery, much to the frustration of the coach.

Emery decided to talk it out with the player in front of the squad, not for the first time, and also questioned his commitment, again not for the first time.

However, today the coach was full of praise for the player and said that their relationship was not the reason why he has gone.

"It was a sporting decision arrived at by consensus and it was nothing personal," he told Marca.

"In the world of football decisions are made constantly and one must be prepared for them, but always with reason and criteria, in this case it was sporting. We have said good bye, shook hands and he has wished us the best."

It has been suspected for a while that Helguera, who had a contract until 2010 with the club, would be leaving, but it was not expected to happen like this. With the club reportedly in financial trouble it seems like a large amount to play to offload a player, but Emery assured that there is cover.

"There are solutions and people in the squad with desires to help and to contribute when asked," he mused.

The Basque did however say he regretted the fact that himself and he player had not 'achieved a common goal to row in the same direction', but that he wishes him the best of luck.

Valencia take on Espanyol this weekend and Emery knows that his side need to rediscover some form at the Mestalla.

"We were strong at home for so many games and, after two losses, I want to recover that," he declared.

"The intention is to win and to be a good team at home again, so that anyone who wins here has to play very well."

James Walker-Roberts, Goal.com


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