David Silva Signs a 5 Year Deal

[Pat Murphy]

David Josué Jiménez Silva (born January 8, 1986 in Arguineguín, Spain), is a footballer who plays as a midfielder for Valencia CF and the Spanish national football team.

He made his first league appearance at SD Eibar where he played 35 league games for the side whilst on loan from Valencia, scoring 5 goals. In the 2005/2006 season, Silva was loaned out to play for Celta Vigo where he played 31 matches scoring 4 goals, further cementing his reputation as one of Valencia's brightest prospects. He soon became a Spanish U21 international, and scored 4 goals during the FIFA World Youth Championship in 2005; this was enough to earn him joint 4th place in the goal ranking, alongside Italian striker Graziano Pelle.

Silva's playstyle is versatile, capable of playing as a left winger, playmaker, and recently has been played in Valencia as a right winger and a striker. A player of slight build, he is often compared to Pablo Aimar, the player he replaced at Valencia. In fact Silva is wearing Aimar's trademark number 21 shirt. Silva is considered one of the prospects in Valencia, and already a lot of responsibility lies on his shoulders.

On June 21, 2007, Silva signed a seven-year contract at Valencia, further cementing his place as one of the club's leading players and brightest prospects, alongside David Villa, Joaquín and Raul Albiol.

Wikipedia

[Pat Murphy]

David Silva's goal vs Chelsea voted Valencia's best goal of the season on the official site.

TalkSoccer Media Player

The goal of David Silva in London against Chelsea during the quarter finals match of the UEFA Champions League is, at this moment, the most voted one in the poll that this official website started on July 1st 2007 in order to choose the best goal of the 2006/2007 season. The amazing goal of the Canarian player, after a terrific play on the left side of the pitch that ended with an incredible shot that Cech couldn’t stop, received 2700 votes, reaching an important advantage of 1600 votes over the goal scored by David Villa in San Siro against Inter Milan after a free-kick shot. The third most voted goal in this ranking is the one Villa scored against FC Barcelona in Nou Camp after a wonderful team play. Anyway, this poll will be active until July 15th 2007, and you can watch the Top 10 goals by clicking on the entry flash of the main page.

Valenciacf.es

[Pat Murphy]

Silva Would Welcome Zigic Move

David Silva has been impressed with the new arrivals at Valencia this summer and would welcome any move for Racing Santander striker Nikola Zigic.

The 21-year-old is relishing the start of the season and is excited by the new look squad at Mestalla after the rebuilding programme.

Following the arrival of players like Timo Hildebrand, Iván Helguera, Alexis and Javier Arizmendi, among others, Silva would also welcome Zigic to the club.

"He is very good up front and has surprised me with how good he is with his feet," he said.

Zigic has been linked with a move to Valencia, but Silva has also been impressed with the other transfers that have been made.

"I think everyone who has joined will improve the squad and believe that will adapt quickly," he continued.

"Many teams defend when they play us and we have the players now to break down other sides."

Valencia face Debreceni or IF Elfsborg in the third qualifying round of the Champions League and Silva is confident that the team can make it through to the group stages.

"We have to go out and fight from the very first game," he added. "The qualifying round is very important, but we have to squad to be able to do this."

Goal.com

Goal.com - Valencia - Silva Would Welcome Zigic Move

[Pat Murphy]

Barcelona Intensify Silva Push

Barcelona sporting director Txiki Begiristain has intensified efforts to sign Valencia left-winger David Silva, according to reports in Spain.

The Blaugrana are looking to bolster their squad in light of recent failures on the pitch, as well as replace certain players who are set to leave Camp Nou this summer.

Sport claim that Begiristain is eyeing the midfielder for his versatility in the middle of the park, which Silva has displayed for Los Che, playing on either wing and in the hole.


Los Che have warned that they may be forced to sell some of their most prized assets and, although several clubs are interested in Silva, the chances of him moving to Barcelona are increasing as Valencia try and balance their books.

With Ronaldinho expected to sign for Milan soon, Begiristain is looking for a player who can easily adapt to cover for the out-going Brazilian playmaker.

It is believed the Catalan giants will be able to land the player for around €18 million and Silva would be tempted by a move to Camp Nou as he will be able to increase, if not double, his current salary as well as play Champions League football next season.

It is understood that Barcelona are pushing for Florent Malouda as well, hoping to close the deal for one of the two before the start of the European Championship.

Salvatore Landolina - Goal.com

[Pat Murphy]

Fans' Site Protest Silva Auction

Valencia supporters have created a website designed to try and persuade the club not to consider selling David Silva this summer in order to balance the books.

The fans are concerned that selling one of the squad's best players could be highly detrimental to los Ché's chances of playing at the top end of the table next season.

Barcelona are said to be interested in the left-sided forward and could be prepared to pay as much as €20m to secure his services and that money could be used to help new coach Unai Emery to rebuild.

Unhappy at the idea of seeing one of their favourites go, a group of Valencia supporters have spelt out all the reasons they can think of to show why Silva should be kept at all costs.

"The site has been created because of the intention of Valencia, more concretely the intention of majority shareholder Juan Soler, to negotiate and listen to offers for one of the key players in the ché squad," part of the mission statement reads.

"At only 22 years of age and with more than 100 appearances for the club under his bely, Silve is a reference for quality, performance and sacrifice that the team needs and he is also a regular in the Spanish national squad.

"He is a player of the present and the future and having given so much should be allowed to give even more to the new project at the club."

Soler was hounded into stepping down as club president earlier this season, but he still holds the majority of the club's shares allowing him to continue making major decisions.

The site is inviting signatures and messages of support from Valencia and football fans, but it is in Spanish only at: silvanosevende.tk

Lucas Brown, Goal.com

[Pat Murphy]

Silva Signs New Valencia Deal

David Silva has ended speculation about his immediate future by signing a lucrative contract extension with Valencia...

A host of clubs have been tracking Silva this summer after the young playmaker turned heads with his fine performances for Spain at EURO 2008 in June.

Manchester United lodged a formal bid for the 22-year-old earlier in the week but were wholeheartedly rebuffed by los Che, who are desperate to hold onto their stars after a torrid 2007-08 campaign.

Furthermore, Silva recently revealed that he has no desire to leave Spain - not even to link up with compatriots Rafa Benitez and Juande Ramos at Liverpool and Tottenham respectively, who have both expressed interest.

And the youngster's future at the Mestalla is now effectively secured after he penned a new five-year deal yesterday, much to the delight of Valencia president Fernando Gomez.

"It's very satisfying to see the player's willingness to stay," Gomez told the press.

"The club will not do anything crazy or break our financial and sporting guidelines so we have gone as far as we have been able to.

"There is complete agreement between the club and the player David Jimenez Silva that he will remain with us for the next five seasons.

"We have always expressed the hope that he will stay with us."

Valencia will now focus their attentions on tying down star striker David Villa, who has also been linked with a big-money move to the Premier League.

Leslie May - Goal.com

Goal.com - Valencia - Silva Signs New Valencia Deal