Everton And Valencia Agree Fernandes Deal

[unitedfan]

Fernandes: Surprised
Manuel Fernandes has admitted that he has been surprised by the speed of his transfer from Benfica to Valencia as he was on the verge of a move to Everton.


The 21-year-old Portuguese midfielder agreed to move to the Mestalla, rather than to Goodison Park, after a brief chat with compatriot Miguel.


After spending the second half of last season on loan at Everton, the Preier League side expected him to join permanently only to see Valencia succeed with a last minute 18million euros (£12million) bid.


Excited
"What happened with Everton are things that I know nothing about and what is most important now is that I am here," Fernandes said.


"I did not expect everything to happen to me so quickly, but I am very excited to be here.


"I talked to Miguel and know that I am joining a good club and a place where I can grow."


Fernandes is prepared to battle for a place in Quique Sanchez Flores' side and believes that Ruben Baraja will be his rival and not David Albelda.


Battle
"I am very combative and do not score many goals," he continued. "I do not like to be an individualist and prefer to play for the team.


"I see myself more like Baraja then Albelda because I can work back but I also enjoy attacking.


"It is never easy to earn a starting place, but I have come here to play and have respect for all my new team-mates."


Valencia president, Juan Soler, was delighted to have captured a player that the club were keen to sign after missing out on several targets this summer.


"He is a player that the coaching staff wanted," the club supremo said.


"He is young, has great quality and is already a full international, as well as having the experience of playing in the English league.


"We have been able to beat other clubs to him and obtain his signature."

Stole him from the palm of Everton's hand.

[Super Pibe #7]

Great youngsters they have now.Albelda/Baraja are getting old and edu is constantly injured.

Sunny stephen and Manuel fernandes must give them a lot of confidence.

[Trim]

Portuguese U-21 midfielder Manuel Fernandes has insisted that he's nobody's understudy, the new Mestalla arrival stating that he's come to Valencia in order to play football, not warm the bench...

Former Benfica man Manuel Fernandes has yet to make a Liga start for Valencia, but seeks to change that particular statistic sooner rather than later.

"I always want to play," he said after netting twice for the Portuguese U-21s against Montenegro in the European Championship qualifiers midweek.

"I've wanted to play since the first day I arrived," he added, pointing out that he doesn't merely wish to be understudy to the likes of Baraja, Albelda and even Sunny.

However, he was realistic with it, pointing out that it's "never easy to play for Valencia."

"But no player likes to have just the odd two minutes," he continued.

Fernandes is no stranger to first team football, the 21 year old having played over 60 games for Benfica in the BWINLIGA, as well as enjoying spells at both Portsmouth and Everton in the Premiership.

But he's still happy to be at the Mestalla, saying, "Valencia's a great club with good people who have helped me enter the squad and adapt to it."

Finally, he cast an eye over the unsavoury scenes in Lisbon as Portugal coach Felipe Scolari lashed out at Serbia and Sevilla defender Ivica 'Drago' Dragutinovic.

"It's a disagreeable situation. People can't simply be punched like that. I don't know what kind of sanction will happen," he said.

Fernandes, a member of Benfica's successful double-pivot, scored three league goals with the Portuguese giants, and a further three in England.

Goal.com - Valencia - Fernandes: I Came To Valencia To Play

[jec1]

Yes, he came to play!

He was fantastic with the U21NT when they played montenegro.

[Dellas]

surely he would have got a definite first team at Everton as well... tbh it would be a more secure first team place than at Valencia (with all their talent in the midfield).

[jec1]

How's he doing after his injury?

[lionel]

he is one of the only players who play well in valencia. but now when villa is back the whole team looks good, fernandez also.

I didn't know him before so I can't say if he was affected by the injury... but I am impressed by him. good strength and pace.

[Evertonscouser]

Will be regarded as a world class player one day in my opinion, given the right attitude.

[lionel]

Manuel played 70 minutes today in valencia's 0-1 loss to racing. then joaquin came in for him.
I didn't watch the match but I guess he was disappointing...

[Evertonscouser]

Did he play much tonight?

[lionel]

^he went in as a sub in the 35th minute for morientes. I didn't watch the 90 minutes yet but it doesn't seem he added to the poor side of valencia.

[Pat Murphy]

Fernandes Arrest Set To Speed Up Valencia Exit

Manuel Fernandes future at Valencia looks even more bleak after he spent a night in prison after a fracas at a night club in the city centre.

The Portugese star was with a group celebrating teammate Miguel's birthday when a bust-up happened after a member of the public called police after allegedly having his watch stolen.

While Miguel was not taken to the police station as he refused to leave the disco without his lawyer, Fernandes and his brother were escorted away.

Despite requests from the rest of the players, the police refused to allow release Fernandes and he was forced to spend the night in a cell.

Valencia are expected to issue an official statement once they have all the facts, but the incident is unlikely to impress coach Ronald Koeman.

The Dutchman is reported to have asked the club to find Fernandes a new team and Everton have been linked with a move for their former player.

David Albelda, Miguel Ángel Angulo and Santi Cañizares have made headlines for being outcast by Koeman, but Fernandes is also on the list of unwanted members of the squad.

Fernandes is said to have turned the chance to move to Goodison Park on a full time basis in the summer after a successful loan spell.

David Moyes was said to have been furious as he believed that the player had agreed to sign, but he now appears to have forgotten that spat and wants to take him back.

Goal.com

Goal.com - Valencia - Fernandes Arrest Set To Speed Up Valencia Exit

Fernandes almost definately out of Valencia. Depending on whether Valencia will let him leave on a 6 month loan.

[Pat Murphy]

Everton And Valencia Agree Fernandes Deal

Manuel Fernandes will rejoin Everton on loan until the end of the season after Valencia agreed to to allow the Portuguese star leave the club.

The 21-year-old is set to undergo a medical on Merseyside on Thursday and then sign a six-month contract at Goodison Park.

Having spent the second half of last term with the Toffees, where he made nine appearances, Fernandes was expected to make his switch from Benfica permanent last summer, but instead chose to go to Spain.

That move was complicated by the Premier League not being happy that a third party, Global Sports Agency, owned part of his rights.

Manager David Moyes expressed his shock at the time that Fernandes had turned his back on Everton when he expected him to sign, but now he has landed his man.

After being one of Valencia's star signings in pre-season, the midfielder made just three appearances for the club and has been frozen out by new coach Ronald Koeman.

The Dutchman decided to let Fernandes leave in December and last week's arrest in a nightclub fracas in the centre of the city helped speed up the return to the Premier League.

Everton have an option to buy at the end of the season for €16m, but will be hoping to persuade Los Ché to lower their asking price.

Goal.com

Goal.com - Valencia - Everton And Valencia Agree Fernandes Deal