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United and Madrid at war over Valencia
Antonio Valencia's future will finally be decided when the winger returns from holiday this weekend, Dave Whelan admitting Wigan have already received "acceptable offers" for his services.
Manchester United and Real Madrid are locked in a tug of war for the Ecuador international, and Whelan believes things will finally come to a head over the next few days when Valencia is due back in Wigan.
Both United and Real have been waiting to meet with Whelan, who has delayed the discussions until he has spoken to the player himself.
"Antonio is still away on holiday and is back towards the end of the week, and we can't do anything until he gets back," Whelan told the Observer last night (Monday).
"The meetings with Manchester United and Real Madrid have not
happened yet, because they both know he is away.
"We can't do anything and they can't do anything until he does get back. Where he goes and what he does is entirely up to him.
"There are offers on the table, but football doesn't operate like that. Whatever anybody says or what they tell you on the telephone, I like to see it in black and white.
"We have definitely had offers, but we are just waiting for him to come
back. It's no use me saying he is going to Manchester United, because he is the boss and we'll be listening to what he says.
"We have had offers that are acceptable to Wigan Athletic, around the 14-18m mark, but what we will finish up with eventually I don't know.
"One club could offer 2m more than the other, but if Antonio says he doesn't want to go there then there is no point.
"We can't tell him where he wants to go. If he wants to go, we've always promised him he can go. But if he wants to stay, then he'll stay."
United see Valencia as a perfect replacement for the Madrid-bound Cristiano Ronaldo and, although comparisons are inevitable, Whelan believes the Premier League champions would be getting a top-quality player in his own right.
"I think he is an outstanding player and he would fit in at either Manchester United or Real Madrid," Whelan added.
"I don't think there is any doubt that he will end up at one of those clubs – it's just a case of which one he wants to end up at. It's not
for us to decide, to be honest.
"He is a top quality player, and the whole of Wigan knows that. He has everything needed to be a top player for a top four club.
"He is a different kind of player to Cristiano Ronaldo, but he never loses the ball, he is a good lad and he would not let
anybody down.
"You'll always get some stupid fees being paid for certain players, but you have to be realistic – and 14-18m is a hell of a lot money for a football player."
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Weather for Wigan
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 14 C to 25 C
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