Valencia throw out offer for Mendieta

Valencia have rejected a players-plus-cash offer from Real Madrid for midfielder Gaizka Mendieta. The Bernabeu side tabled £18.5 million as well as Brazil forward Savio, Spain defender Michel Salgado and youth star Tote for the playmaker.

"We are not willing to negotiate," Valencia vice-president Jaime Ortiz told Spanish radio. "We are not going to make it easy for Mendieta to leave Valencia.

"If he tells us he wants to leave we can't do anything about it – but we're not letting him go as part of a player-exchange deal."

Valencia enticed Real to put in a bid for the coveted international at the weekend. "Real are in with a chance if they meet our £36 million valuation of the player," said president Pedro Cortes.

The Ches, though, had made it clear they would only do business on their terms. "Gaizka's clause is £36 million and it won't do us any good if we accept lower bids," added Cortes.

"The only way clubs will get any of our players is by paying the price stipulated in their contracts. I will not deceive anyone who is interested. They can say what they like, but unless they offer the right amount, nobody is going anywhere."

Real were only expected to follow up their interest in Mendieta if they failed to land Zinedine Zidane from Juventus. The France playmaker declared on Saturday that he wants to join Real, despite Juve's apparent unwillingness to sell.