Bought with a lot of promise from FC Porto, Eliaquim Mangala’s time at Manchester City hasn’t been the success many hoped it would be.
Failing to convince Pep Guardiola in pre-season, the 26-year-old was sent on a season long loan to Valencia in Spain, which hasn’t really gone to plan either.
The La Liga side have suffered one of their worst campaigns in recent years, and, if they fail to leapfrog Malaga on the final day of the season, could finish 12th (or even 13th if Celta Vigo win and Valencia lose), which would be their lowest league ranking since 1988.
As part of the loan deal taking Mangala from the Etihad to the Mestalla, both clubs had agreed on a €20m buy-out clause (sometimes reported as €18m) in case Valencia wanted to make the deal permanent.
However, according to Plaza Deportiva, the clause had an expiry date, which has now passed.
Valencia felt €20m was a bit much at this moment in time, but that doesn’t mean they have completely given up on the French defender.
Plaza explain Valencia could start new negotiations with Manchester City down the line, with a reduced valuation one of the key elements of the talks.
Mangala is expected to be an in demand player this summer, with English clubs as well as Galatasaray reportedly after him, and with the Citizens likely to want to recoup as much of the £30m+ they spent on him in the first place, they are likely to simply sell to the highest bidder.
With that in mind, things look aren’t looking promising for Valencia.
