Morientes joins Valencia

[FL4ZGN]

Liverpool have cut their losses on Fernando Morientes and sold the striker to Valencia.

Morientes' Anfield future has been the subject of intense scrutiny in recent weeks following a lacklustre time with The Reds.

His agent appeared to intimate earlier this week that the 30-year-old would see out the remaining two years on his contract with the Premiership club.

But Liverpool have now agreed to sell Morientes to Valencia for an undisclosed fee, after the forward was also linked with Real Betis and Espanyol.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez splashed out £6.3 million to bring Morientes to Merseyside from Real Madrid in January 2005.

Morientes, though, failed to provide a significant return on the investment as he mustered just 12 goals in 61 appearances.

He struggled to adjust to the demands of Premiership football and has now returned to La Liga, where he forged a reputation as one of the most consistent goalscorers in the European game.

The length of Morientes' contract has yet to be revealed and the move will be a boost to the player, who missed out on Spain's World Cup squad.

His last appearance for Liverpool was in the FA Cup final when he came on as a substitute in the penalty shoot-out success over West Ham United.

Source (Sky Sports)

[emurf]

Pity, he had potential when he came but rafa was right to cut he's losses.

[Frantic]

Yeah he is a fine player but never recovered from lacking fitness when he arrived. He had a bad start because of it and never got started really. Hope he does well in spain.

[Carmona]

Yeah he is a fine player but never recovered from lacking fitness when he arrived. He had a bad start because of it and never got started really. Hope he does well in spain.
So do I! Being a Valencia fan. He might do well with Villa...... though I'm not really holding my breath.

[HeeAirO]

So do I! Being a Valencia fan. He might do well with Villa...... though I'm not really holding my breath.

were you holding your breath there during the last game of the season when Valencia failed to get 2nd place.
That must have sucked from your perspective??

I was holding my breath when Ronaldo got a penalty against Valencia in the Mestalla in the last minute there a couple of months ago and then el gordo missed it..... Didnt have an effect in the end though.

[Carmona]

were you holding your breath there during the last game of the season when Valencia failed to get 2nd place.
That must have sucked from your perspective??

I was holding my breath when Ronaldo got a penalty against Valencia in the Mestalla in the last minute there a couple of months ago and then el gordo missed it..... Didnt have an effect in the end though.
When we went 2 down I shudda gone straight to Paddy Power and put a few bob on our scoring a blinder in the very last second with no time to equalise and so finish 3rd instead of 2nd. Like a film script. Well, in all fairness Valencia have won two leagues this century, but normally we do a good shooting in one's foot impression.