Soccer: Valencia reject €16.9m United bid for Ayala

Spanish club Valencia have told Manchester United that Argentine defender Roberto Ayala is not for sale.

Valencia confirmed today that they have received a £10.5m (€16.9m) bid for the player from United.

Club advisor Jesus Barrachina said: "For a fee like that it is not even a consideration; we wouldn’t even bother to open the envelope which contains the offer."

Ayala, who joined Valencia from AC Milan for around £2.5m (€4.04m) in September 2000, forfeited 30% of his signing-on fee in Spain for a guarantee that a good performance would lead to an improved deal.

However, the player’s agent has suggested that he is unhappy with his current contract.