latest news
VILLA EXTENDS VALENCIA STAY
Villa - six-year deal.
Valencia striker David Villa has ended speculation over his future by signing a new long-term contract with the Primera Liga club.
The 26-year-old, who has been strongly linked with a move to Spanish champions Real Madrid, put pen to paper on a six-year deal on Wednesday.
The contract has brought to an end debate over the future of the sought-after forward, who was widely tipped to make a bIg-money move after winning the golden boot at Euro 2008.
Valencia president Vicente Soriano announced Villa's new contract at a press conference.
He said: "We announce today that David Villa and Valencia will remain together for many years to come.
"The best striker in Europe is staying at Valencia."
Villa caught the eye at the European Championship, scoring a hat-trick in Spain's opening-game victory over Russia as well as the winner against Sweden to finish as the competitions' leading scorer.
Villa added after signing the deal: "It is a very happy day for me. In the last month and a half lots of things have happened around me that I have not experienced before.
"I want to thank Valencia for this gesture. I am very grateful to this club for what they have given me and I hope to continue to give good performances."
The striker, whose new deal will keep him at the Mestalla until 2014, was, according to media reports in Spain, the target of a bid of around 47million euros from Madrid earlier this week.
Valencia vice-president Fernando Gomez denied on Tuesday night they had received any offers for Villa and, despite suggestions of a new Madrid bid of 40million plus either Javi Garcia or Javier Saviola in part-exchange, Los Che on Wednesday agreed a deal with their striker that will delight the club's supporters.
Villa's new contract follows soon after team-mate David Silva put pen to paper on an improved five-year deal with Valencia, and fulfils the club's ambition of keeping the two highly-rated Spanish internationals at the Mestalla.
