Álvaro Negredo’s Turbulent Tenure at Valencia

Álvaro Negredo joined Valencia in the summer of 2014, heralded by coach Nuno Espirito Santo as a player who would make a significant impact. The club invested €28 million to acquire him from Manchester City amidst a flurry of signings orchestrated by Peter Lim, who had already begun managing the club prior to officially acquiring majority ownership. In his first season, Negredo was not a standout player for a Valencia side that excelled in La Liga, finishing fourth with 75 points. However, he did score a critical goal in the qualifying match against Monaco, securing the team’s place in the Champions League. Unfortunately, the new campaign did not commence well, as the team struggled in the league and Negredo managed to net only one additional goal against Deportivo.

Reflecting on his challenging relationship with Nuno Espirito Santo, Negredo shared details on the Offsiders podcast, particularly regarding an interview published in MARCA that caused significant tension. In the interview, Negredo discussed the underwhelming goal tally of Valencia’s forwards, attributing it to their deeper positioning on the field, which hindered their ability to reach the goal. This statement did not sit well with Nuno, who reportedly felt it was a personal affront.

During the interview, Negredo was informed that statistical analysis indicated he was playing further from the goal than expected, a notion that was reiterated in both the print and digital editions of the publication. The fallout from this interview was extensive, as it was widely reported due to Nuno’s known temperament, which was increasingly under scrutiny due to the team’s disappointing results.

Negredo recalled that subsequent to the interview, he continued to train normally, yet expected to at least be on the bench for the upcoming match against Málaga. However, as he prepared for the game, he was told by an assistant coach that he would not be participating that day, leaving him taken aback since he had been training all week.

Nuno addressed the media prior to the match against Málaga and was questioned about Negredo’s comments in MARCA, to which he replied that the team had been playing less directly but did not elaborate further. Negredo found himself sidelined, not playing again during Nuno’s tenure. He remarked, “I didn’t play again until he left the club, not even being named in the squad.”

Negredo recounted an incident where he confronted Nuno in front of his teammates about wanting to speak publicly regarding the matter, as Nuno had previously made comments in a press conference suggesting that anyone unwilling to stay should leave. Nuno insisted on a private conversation, which Negredo declined, asserting that he sought transparency in front of his colleagues. This led to a complete breakdown in communication between the two.

During his extended absence from match play due to the coach’s decision, Negredo underwent surgery for appendicitis. This occurred just two weeks before the club parted ways with Nuno, an exit that was portrayed as a mutual agreement. Negredo made his return to the pitch on December 9, under the management of Neville, and by the end of that season, he had participated in 40 matches, scoring 12 goals and providing one assist.