Valencia to let Canizares leave
Reuters - Friday 16 May 2008, 19:48
Valencia have agreed with
goalkeeper Santiago Canizares to rescind his contract from the
start of next week, the Primera Liga club said on Friday.
"I want to thank him for everything he has given this club.
He has been an icon and we wish the very best of luck,"
president Agustin Morera told a news conference.
"We would have liked it all to have finished in a better way
but he deserves to leave the club with a big send off."
Valencia host Atletico Madrid at the Mestalla on Sunday for
their final game of the campaign. Canizares' contract, which had
another year to run, will end on Monday.
The 38-year-old, who has been capped 45 times for Spain, has
been at Valencia since leaving Real Madrid in 1998, helping them
win two league titles, a UEFA Cup, and playing in two Champions
League finals.
"I am going to listen to offers and if any of them interest
me I will take them. If not I will do something else, because I
also have offers to do other things. I haven't made up my mind
on retirement," said Canizares.
He lost his first-choice status to Germany's Timo Hildebrand
this season, and suffered a further setback when then coach
Ronald Koeman told him in December, along with team mates David
Albelda and Miguel Angel Angulo, he would not play again this
season.
When Koeman was sacked last month, new coach Salvador
Gonzalez 'Voro' recalled him to the squad.
"I have a very different view from the one that the current
bosses of Valencia have, but that doesn't mean to say we don't
have a mutual respect for each other," he added.
"Despite the differences that have emerged, I will never
have negative feelings towards Valencia."
Writing by Mark Elkington, editing by Alan Baldwin and Justin
Palmer