Valencia CF have made an official statement responding to Ezequiel Garay‘s complaints that the club is making a smear campaign against him.
Valencia CF Respond to Ezequiel Garay’s Complaint of Smear Campaign
Ezequiel Garay’s Complaint
The Valencia defender has been at the club since 2016, making 92 La Liga appearances. He took to social media to state his case.
“When I say campaign, I mean people at the club have tried to discredit me as a professional and as a person” (Translated from the Spanish via Marca).
He goes on to outline a protracted and difficult series of negotiations for a new contract; Garay was unhappy with the new deal being offered since it was “notably inferior to the one” he already had.
During this time Garay bemoans the rumour that he did not want to stay at the club; he dismisses this rumour as untrue at the time.
Further negotiations included a verbal agreement, but then at another meeting conditions had been changed.
During the coronavirus crisis, there were further issues regarding sick leave, and then furlough.
The player then announced his farewell; “My farewell comes straight from the heart, because I believe I am a good man and I believe that you deserve to know the truth.”
He then closed his statement with “I want to finish saying that lies are easy to believe but unfortunately the truth has to come out at some point and with that, I bid you farewell and ‘Amunt Valencia’.”
Valencia’s Response
The club announced that they “regret and are surprised at the statements made.” They deny any wish to enter “public controversies”, instead claiming the “club have shown care and constant support at all times.”
Secondly, the club claims that “several proposals made since [July 2019]… would have improved upon his current contract.”
A final point relates to the ERTE or furlough procedure. Valencia claim that “the player was the only footballer to reject signing the universal agreement reached with the entire first team and coaching staff for a reduction in payment.”
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