Braulio Vázquez says Unai Emery did not know Adil Rami when Valencia signed him | OneFootball

Braulio Vázquez has revealed on Los Fulanos podcast that Unai Emery did not know Adil Rami when Valencia CF signed the Lille defender in summer 2011.

Vázquez rose to prominence at Mestalla. He joined Valencia CF’s technical staff in 2008 and became sporting director in 2010 after Fernando Gómez Colomer left, serving three years before Rufete succeeded him.

The previous summer he sold David Villa, David Silva and Nikola Zigic, bringing in Roberto Soldado, Aritz Aduriz, Jonas and Sofiane Feghouli. In 2011 the rebuild continued with Dani Parejo, Sergio Canales, Pablo Piatti, Diego Alves and Rami. Vázquez said Emery knew two from UD Almería and two were emerging LaLiga talents, but he had not seen Rami, adding that the coach’s focus was match preparation and day-to-day management.

Valencia CF paid six million for Rami, a deal Vázquez pushed after the centre-back had won the league and the cup in France. Rami started superbly and by January clubs were enquiring. He still finished that first season as a key figure in runs to the UEFA and Copa del Rey semi-finals, making 53 appearances and scoring six goals.

His influence faded in 2013, and he was loaned to Milan, where he scored three goals in 18 Serie A games before a permanent move for a little over four million. After one more season in Italy he returned to Spain with Sevilla under Emery. Spells at Marseille, Fenerbahçe, Sochi, Boavista and Troyes followed, and he never stayed three seasons at any club.

Source: Superdeporte