Ayala Signs New Valencia Deal
MADRID, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Argentine international defender Roberto Fabian Ayala has finally agreed a two-year extension to his contract with Valencia.
The 30-year-old centre back, whose original deal had been due to expire in June 2005, has signed on improved terms after almost a year of hard bargaining with the club.
'We are all very happy,' his representative Gustavo Mascardi told reporters. 'We wanted to renew the deal over a year ago and today we have finally managed to do it.
Ayala has been at the centre of intense transfer speculation linking him with both Barcelona and Real Madrid in recent months.
During the close season he expressed an interest in signing for Barcelona and shortly before the transfer deadline expired Real Madrid made a bid of more than 12 million euros ($13.79 million) for the highly rated defender.
'The agreement was made possible because there has been a change of posture from both the Valencia board and the player himself,' Mascardi said.
Ayala has been one of Valencia's most influential players since he joined the Mediterranean club from AC Milan for $4.3 million in September 2000.
He has marshalled what has been one of the most effective defences in the Primera Liga and played a key role in club's run to the final of the Champions League in 2001 as well as their victory in the 2002 domestic championship.
Ayala made his name in Argentina with River Plate, and had a three-season spell at Napoli before joining Milan in 1998.
He has not yet played for Valencia in the league this season because of a leg injury but has told coach Rafa Benitez that he is keen to return to action in this weekend's league match against Real Madrid.
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