Euro 2008 top scorer David Villa is not on Liverpool’s transfer hit list this summer.
And the Valencia striker has even moved to dampen speculation himself.
The four-goal leading marksman at the European Championships was recently quoted as saying he held an ‘attraction’ for both Liverpool and Chelsea.
But the Spanish striker clarified his comments last night.
“I have heard that I am supposed to have said that I would prefer to go to Liverpool to play next season or that I want Chelsea to be my next team,” he said.
“I have not said anything like that. My club insists I am not for sale and, believe me, I am totally focused on the European Championships.
“As far as I know, nobody from Liverpool has been in touch, but in any case my future is not something I have in my mind at the moment. I do not understand why people put words in my mouth.
“I always say the same thing. Nobody from Valencia has told me that I am for sale. In any case, I am not at all worried about that at the moment.
“My priority, for now, is to play well in Euro 2008.”
Reds boss Rafa Benitez is looking elsewhere for reinforcements rather than his old club at the Mestalla.
With Peter Crouch looking likely to leave this summer – although the Reds have received no bids, official or informal, from Portsmouth – Benitez will need more strength in the striking department at Anfield.
But he is not planning a raid on Valencia for Villa.
Speculation has been intense that Villa could become a Reds target, especially as the Spanish star admits that his closest friends in the national team’s camp are all Liverpool players.
After his last minute winner against Sweden he said: “The first person I met to celebrate it with was Reina, my best friend. He ran faster than anybody, in fact he always runs the fastest in goal celebrations. He lives matches very intensely.”
And after his Russia hat-trick he added: “I picked up a hairline fracture in my finger hugging Torres after our first goal of the tournament. My finger got stuck in his shirt. And then with Pepe Reina, I jumped and we hit our heads! God, it is dangerous to celebrate.
“But thank God for Pepe Reina and Xabi Alonso. I don’t speak English, so they had to go to the ref and explain that I wanted the ball, about the traditions involving a hat-trick.
“He didn’t want to give it to me. He said he couldn’t, but in the end he did.
“I am lucky that I play next to Fernando Torres. Contrary to what happens when I play for Valencia, playing alongside Torres for Spain means that defenders have got two people to worry about. I have taken advantage of Fernando’s movement and of his runs.
“The first goal against Russia was practically his: he made the move and, very generously, passed it to me.
“For the second, his movement created a hole that Iniesta spotted and was able to feed me the ball. That is why I went across to the bench to celebrate the hat trick with Fernando.”
It is unlikely, however, that the pair will ever get the opportunity to recreate that partnership at Anfield.
And the Valencia striker has even moved to dampen speculation himself.
The four-goal leading marksman at the European Championships was recently quoted as saying he held an ‘attraction’ for both Liverpool and Chelsea.
But the Spanish striker clarified his comments last night.
“I have heard that I am supposed to have said that I would prefer to go to Liverpool to play next season or that I want Chelsea to be my next team,” he said.
“I have not said anything like that. My club insists I am not for sale and, believe me, I am totally focused on the European Championships.
“As far as I know, nobody from Liverpool has been in touch, but in any case my future is not something I have in my mind at the moment. I do not understand why people put words in my mouth.
“I always say the same thing. Nobody from Valencia has told me that I am for sale. In any case, I am not at all worried about that at the moment.
“My priority, for now, is to play well in Euro 2008.”
Reds boss Rafa Benitez is looking elsewhere for reinforcements rather than his old club at the Mestalla.
With Peter Crouch looking likely to leave this summer – although the Reds have received no bids, official or informal, from Portsmouth – Benitez will need more strength in the striking department at Anfield.
But he is not planning a raid on Valencia for Villa.
Speculation has been intense that Villa could become a Reds target, especially as the Spanish star admits that his closest friends in the national team’s camp are all Liverpool players.
After his last minute winner against Sweden he said: “The first person I met to celebrate it with was Reina, my best friend. He ran faster than anybody, in fact he always runs the fastest in goal celebrations. He lives matches very intensely.”
And after his Russia hat-trick he added: “I picked up a hairline fracture in my finger hugging Torres after our first goal of the tournament. My finger got stuck in his shirt. And then with Pepe Reina, I jumped and we hit our heads! God, it is dangerous to celebrate.
“But thank God for Pepe Reina and Xabi Alonso. I don’t speak English, so they had to go to the ref and explain that I wanted the ball, about the traditions involving a hat-trick.
“He didn’t want to give it to me. He said he couldn’t, but in the end he did.
“I am lucky that I play next to Fernando Torres. Contrary to what happens when I play for Valencia, playing alongside Torres for Spain means that defenders have got two people to worry about. I have taken advantage of Fernando’s movement and of his runs.
“The first goal against Russia was practically his: he made the move and, very generously, passed it to me.
“For the second, his movement created a hole that Iniesta spotted and was able to feed me the ball. That is why I went across to the bench to celebrate the hat trick with Fernando.”
It is unlikely, however, that the pair will ever get the opportunity to recreate that partnership at Anfield.
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