Villa: No plans to leave Valencia

Striker David Villa has repeated his desire to remain at Valencia despite being linked with several clubs, including Liverpool and Chelsea.

The 26-year-old’s stunning form at Euro 2008, where he has scored four goals for Spain in two appearances, has reportedly attracted the attention of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool and Chelsea among others.

Villa’s name was already on the wanted list of many of Europe’s top clubs thanks to his 18 goals in a campaign to forget for Valencia in La Liga last season, but now the pressure on the club to part with their star seems even greater.

It has been well documented in Spain that the club is struggling financially due to their early exit from the Champions League last season, combined with the costs of building a new stadium and the compensation paid to former coach Ronald Koeman.

This has inevitably led to reports the club will have to sell its top players to stay afloat, with Villa and his Spain team-mate David Silva being the ones most likely to fetch serious money.

But the club directors insist they have financial plans in place to ensure that neither Villa nor Silva have to leave, and will be delighted to hear the former again insist that he wants to stay.

“I left the club to compete in Euro 2008 and, when it ends, I hope to be going back to Valencia,” Villa told Valencian radio station Radio 9.

“I never thought about leaving before (Euro 2008) and I’m not thinking about it now.”