After such a strong start, it's been a miserable 2014 for Alvaro Negredo but the Spain international striker is fit again and looking to recapture his early Manchester City form with Valencia...
Sunday 30 November 2014 19:38, UK
“I'm in a great moment and I hope to have better than this but, yes, my feelings and my game make me think this could be the best moment.”
Alvaro Negredo could be forgiven for feeling wistful if reminded of those words, uttered with relish at the start of 2014. After all, while the year could hardly have started better for the man they call the Beast, what’s followed has been barely believable. Nine goals in January. None in the 11 months since.
Having scored 23 in his first 33 appearances for Manchester City following his switch from Sevilla in the summer, Negredo was understandably being hailed as the signing of last season. Not just a powerful foil for Sergio Aguero, the Spaniard had also shown enough finesse to play in a withdrawn role alongside Edin Dzeko.
But after a run of nine goals in six games, including five in the two legs of the Capital One Cup semi-final against West Ham, came an alarming dip in form. Plagued by a shoulder injury, Negredo was perhaps a victim of his own bravery – carrying the burden for the team while Aguero was injured and losing his way in the process. His final 10 hours in a City shirt brought not a single goal.
It also cost him his place in Spain’s World Cup squad, so when Valencia expressed an interest in taking him home both Negredo and City were willing to deal. “I take with me many memories, lessons, and great moments that will live with me forever,” Negredo told his Twitter followers.
While City made a profit on a 29-year-old and Negredo got a fresh start, Valencia have had to wait to see anything approaching a return on their investment.
A broken metatarsal meant foot surgery in July and he was even jeered at his own unveiling when the former Real Madrid man refused to kiss the badge on his shirt.
It wasn’t until late October that Negredo was able to make his debut off the bench against Elche and he has since had to undergo a mini pre-season in an effort to get up to speed. An injury to top scorer Paco Alcacer necessitated a first start in the derby against Levante last week and Negredo responded with some delicate hold-up play to set up Dani Parejo for the equaliser.
Unfortunately, Levante went straight up the other end to score the winner and inflict only the second defeat of the season on a Valencia team that had won seven of their first 10 games. They remain fourth in the table but are entering a critical period with Alcacer also a doubt for Saturday’s visit of Barcelona to Mestalla.
A game against Barca represents anything but being eased back for Negredo but he will be needed by his team. “Valencia play a very physical game with lots of dynamism and pressure high up the pitch,” says Sky Sports pundit Guillem Balague. A fully-fit Negredo could be the perfect man to fit in with that aggressive approach. The Beast is back.
Watch Valencia v Barcelona from 8pm on Sky Sports 5 HD this Sunday
