Unai Núñez Joins Valencia on Loan from Hellas Verona

Vasco defender Unai Núñez has arrived at Valencia’s Manises Airport to complete his loan transfer to the Mestalla club. This operation was secured late Thursday, pending only final formalities, including a medical examination.

Núñez expressed his satisfaction with the resolution of the transfer, stating, “I am very happy that things have been arranged.” He also confirmed that he has already communicated with the head coach, Carlos Corberán: “I spoke with him, but I need to discuss more in person, so we will take it step by step.” Regarding the possibility of playing this weekend, he clarified, “It depends on what the coach decides. Physically, I am in perfect condition.” Lastly, he shared his excitement about returning to play at Mestalla as a home player, saying, “Mestalla is an amazing stadium with incredible fans, and we hope to bring them a lot of joy.”

The 28-year-old center-back was previously with Hellas Verona on loan from Celta, where he had been a regular starter. However, the Italian club approved his exit after carefully considering the situation and respecting the player’s desire to return to Spain, a decisive factor that facilitated the completion of this deal.

Valencia, currently facing critical defensive challenges due to injuries to key players Mouctar Diakhaby—who will remain sidelined for the rest of the season—and César Tárrega, expedited the process to bring in an experienced center-back. Núñez fits the profile sought by coach Carlos Corberán, who was looking for an immediately impactful player familiar with LaLiga.

During his time in Italy, Núñez played 18 matches (17 in Serie A and one in the cup), accumulating over 1,300 minutes of competition—an essential criterion specified by Corberán for winter market acquisitions. Despite his regular playing time, Hellas Verona agreed to terminate the loan, contingent upon securing a replacement during the winter transfer window.

The final agreement allows Unai Núñez to join Valencia until the end of the season, initially with an option for permanent transfer. This operation aligns with the club’s financial parameters and had been explored during the summer transfer window without materializing. The loan will be finalized once the player completes his medical tests and signs the new sports contract.