Real Sociedad have rejected an offer from Valencia for midfielder Xabi Prieto.
Real Sociedad are understood to have rejected an offer from Valencia for midfielder Xabi Prieto.The Che offered around ‚é¼4 million for the Spain Under-21 international and, although it was initially turned down, have left the bid on the table.
Prieto is under contract at Sociedad until 2008 and has a release clause of some ‚é¼30 million.
The Basque outfit do not want to let their exciting young talent leave, but Valencia are aware that financial problems at the Anoeta could force the club's top-brass into thinking about a sale.
Prieto first shot to attention on the final day of the 2003/04 season when he played a starring role in Sociedad's 4-1 demolition of Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
He is equally comfortable on either flank and can also play in the middle of midfield, although Sociedad normally employ him on the right.
Valencia are not the only club to hold an interest in the player with Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez also reported to have asked for first option on the youngster when he swooped for former team-mate Xabi Alonso last summer.
He is also well thought of by many of the biggest names in Spanish football, but for the time being Sociedad are determined not to sell.
