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“I don’t even want Sneijder!!!”

May 23rd, 2007 | By: Jan | 17 Comments »

Sanchez Flores, coach of Valencia, shocked the (Dutch) football world with his most recent quote: “I don’t want Sneijder. I don’t need him. I want Ivan de la Pena! Barcalona would be good club for him, he could play on Deco’s position. We don’t have that position in our team.”

And his technical director offered Ajax 12 Mio Euros for the midfielder only last week… What’s happening at Valencia?? The trainer wants player A, but the technical director wants to buy player B? Is it stupidity? Is it a game? It seems the negotiations are deadlocked now.

Ajax manager Martin van Geel: “Last we heard was 2 weeks ago. Since then, it is quiet. We’ll wait and see.” Sneijder is the only player van Geel’s talks about to other clubs. “There are no formal bids or informal talks or whatever about any other player, including Klaas Jan Huntelaar. All those stories in the press are rumours.”

Wesley Sneijder reacted very disappointed on the Valencia news. The talented midfielder looked forward to his new club, after the technical director told him all the lore on the Spanish side. “What can I say, you expect the technical director to inform his coach on the players they are signing.”

Weird…

Tags: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, The Netherlands, Wesley Sneijder

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Comments

By carrington | May 23rd, 2007 at 2:48 am

i dont even like valencia anyway. he is better off at another club!

Posted from United Kingdom

By Jan | May 23rd, 2007 at 5:12 am

That’s my idea too. Valencia is ok, but so is Ajax. I’d like to see Sneijder play for a team that plays for prices on a yearly basis: Man Utd, Bayern, Barca, Real Madrid… If those type of clubs aren’t interested I’d stay at Ajax.

Posted from Australia

By goose | May 23rd, 2007 at 5:16 am

dont underetimate Valencia, they can still be spanish champions in a few weeks, great change theyll play Cham. leg. next season

Posted from Netherlands

By ferenc | May 23rd, 2007 at 9:01 am

he should move to barca

Posted from Hungary

By goose | May 23rd, 2007 at 9:31 am

whos on Barcas midfield now Ferenc?? could Sneijder be an asset to that team??

Posted from Netherlands

By ferenc | May 23rd, 2007 at 10:03 am

xavi,deco,iniesta,edmilson,motta. it seems that edmilson will return to france,motta might go to ajax,and deco’s place is not sure neither. so we try to find a defensive midfielder (i’ve even heard edgar’s name). and i think that deco is not as good as he was one-two years ago,so sneijder could replace him. xavi,iniesta,sneijder - i would like to see them together,only one problem is that they are not too high… people say about barca “the hobbit midfield” (+ messi)…

Posted from Hungary

By goose | May 23rd, 2007 at 10:33 am

yeh, its the same kinda problem with Ajax and Oranje..can you play a midfield with 2 ’small’players (vdVaart-Sneijder)?

we all know the strenght of Barca lies in its attack, they are always vulnarable in defence…

so is it more economic to play on attack and ball possession and know you will get some goals against you than to concentrate more on defence and have less ball possession and know that your opponant will have more trouble scoring but more possession of the ball????

this is a vital question in football

Posted from Netherlands

By Igor | May 23rd, 2007 at 11:06 am

Iniesta keeps getting better and better, and while Deco might be having a slow year, I don’t know that it means that he is over the hill. So if Barca do the logical thing, and get a defensive midfielder with a physical presence into their lineup, sneijder would then have to rotate with deco, iniesta and xavi. four excellent attacking mids fighting for two spots in the starting XI…i don’t know that this is a good scenario for sneijder. I think valencia is the kind of team that would have worked, a contender with some excellent players (eg david villa) but not crowded with so many that sneijder would have trouble being a starter on a regular basis. But obviously after the coach says something like that, i would never play for that team while he is there.

Posted from Canada

By Rami | May 23rd, 2007 at 2:08 pm

Agree .. I guess Sneijder is keen on Spain as a habitat as well. More than gloomy Manchester and Snowy Bayern… Spain is beautiful to live in.

However I feel theres a great spot for him at man utd and and bayern.

I d say Valencia was the best of both options, in terms of football oportunities and living quality.

too bad.

Maybe Italy? Sevilla?

Posted from Canada

By Ishmael | May 23rd, 2007 at 9:42 pm

I think Valencai coach sees well. I think Sneijder not goodenough. Good club player for Ajax, maybe. But Real Madrid, Valencia, Barca… to high for Sneijder. Now Vaart also shouting at Bayern! Is pathetic again, He wanted to go to Bayern. They said no. Now he goes shouting: I don’t want to play for you anymore. Like little child. Can you think how much my friends in Australia think Dutch are “handbags”? Holland could not win from Australia remember? I like good football and I wish Dutch football was better but wehave to face it. Only Seedorf can be good. Kuyt needs to work hard and run like a horse (only one goal in CL!!) and Zenden was very very bad. I am afraid.
I like to know Gooss opinion on YOung Holland. Any good players there, gooss?

Posted from Australia

By Miguel Rosado | May 24th, 2007 at 1:04 am

Ishmael:

It is really funny how someone can take the friendly against Australia seriously hahahaha. Ishmael a friendly game is a friendly game. I have seen Brazil lose to Bolivia 3-0 so in your criteria do you think Bolivia is better than Brazil???.
Zenden played very bad because he was injured, Kuyt needs to improve but scored, Seedorf is simply great you are right.
We have great talents in Holland, the problem is that you only see the ones who are playing in the CL but there are some amazing players in the Dutch league and others who are abroad.
Robben, Persie, Huntelaar, Emanuelson, Afellay, Castelen, Babel, Kromkamp, Abeyie, etc. If Fabregas is having success Sneijder will also be successful, the same with Vaart but he needs to move to another team.

By Jan | May 24th, 2007 at 4:30 am

Ishmael, sorry mate… I agree with Rosado. You seem to judge quickly. I’ve seen big name players from Big Countries - so-called - and found they were crap against young Dutch players. Remember how Ajax ‘95 butchered Madrid and Milan? Give these guys a break please… Another thing, we judge players but we do this without the knowledge of the specific tasks they get from their coaches. How many times have you heard JC say: I know (include player’s name here) didn’t play too good, but he did exactly what I wanted him to do, and that in itself is enough for me… You like JC right? Well, pay attention to what he says… I don’t mind criticism or complaints, but try to look further than your nose is long…

That, by the way, is a typical Dutch saying and not meant to be taken personally or literally

Posted from Australia

By Mario | May 25th, 2007 at 1:00 am

Australia is compared to Holland in football soccer??? Sorry, but I am laughing a lot!.
Ishmael, what sport do you see???.

By Ishmael | May 25th, 2007 at 1:56 am

I know of great Dutch history of football. But I saw the Dutch play football dwarf Australia before the WC. And Australia was good. I think Australia did better at WC than Holland. I say Australian sports mentaliti is much better. With good coach and good youth system Holland needs to look out for Australia!!

Youth development was Holland big thing, but now Spain, France, Australia do very good too so where’s Dutch big edge now?

Posted from Australia

By Bart | May 26th, 2007 at 5:55 pm

wasn’t Australia’s coach Guus Hiddink? So our edge is the good Dutch coaches

Posted from United States

By ayl18 | May 28th, 2007 at 11:31 pm

Ha ha. Ishmael… i’m a proud, proud Australian, but you must be a bit naive to compare the Dutch to the Australians in terms of footballing prowess.

In terms of mentality however, i think that the Aussies have one of the best (if not the best) in the world (though the Dutch do have a good mentality aswell).

Hopefully, in the future, the Aussies and the Dutch will be the 2 great footballing superpowers ….. now that would be a great match-up; for me at least.

Posted from Australia

By Jan | May 29th, 2007 at 11:53 pm

Interesting comments all. I must say though, that although I am Dutch I really rooted for the Ozzies during the WC. Not because of Guus or because I live here now, but because of their attitude. The Dutch always bicker on big tournaments (74, 78, 88, 90, 96, 06) or the ball isn’t right or the grass too long or the ref blind etc etc. We are worldchamps in our heads but can’t do it with our feet. I truly felt Australia was robbed. They could’ve gone all the way!!!

Posted from Australia

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