Valencia CF’s right-back maze deepens as Meunier and Andrés García slip away | OneFootball

Valencia CF remain stuck in a right-back conundrum, with three weeks until LaLiga kicks off and Carlos Corberán’s plans constrained by a vacancy the club have yet to fill.

According to Superdeporte, the position was a priority at the start of the window, became even more pressing after the departures of Thierry Rendall and Renzo Saravia, and has turned urgent as preferred options have fallen away.

Thomas Meunier was lined up on a free after leaving Lille, with only a medical left to complete, but the Belgian international changed course at the last moment and signed for Sunderland on a two-year deal.

Valencia then turned to Andrés García, the Valencia-born full-back owned by Aston Villa, who was seeking minutes after limited opportunities in England. The approach came too late, with Getafe securing a season-long loan despite Valencia’s attempt to intervene once terms were already agreed.

The urgency is magnified by Dimitri Foulquier’s situation. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in February and remains an unknown quantity competitively, with no full confidence internally that his recovery will be optimal.

Valencia need a right-back but also need to be right, unable to overpay or bring in a player short of rhythm or arriving late. The market is moving fast while their budget is tight.

For now, the only right-back options are academy players Rubo Iranzo and Rodrigo Gamón, who split minutes by playing a half each against Eldense. If LaLiga started tomorrow, they would be Carlos Corberán’s two alternatives.

Source: Superdeporte