Anil Murthy: “We are going to evaluate different alternatives; we want to finish the stadium”

Following the expiration of the exclusivity period between Valencia CF and ADU Mediterráneo S.L for the sale operation for the land occupied by Mestalla, club president Anil Murthy spoke to VCF Media on Sunday. He addressed the motives behind the termination of the offer, the next steps that will be taken and the importance of the project to Valencia CF.
 
What does the loss of exclusivity for the offer presented by ADU Mediterráneo mean for the land currently occupied by Mestalla?
“Unfortunately, it means that they cannot comply with the purchase conditions that we had agreed. They have communicated to us that they cannot meet them and that they are looking for alternatives. For this reason, it is evident that we cannot maintain their exclusivity for this project -something that we have already notified them of formally. We don’t want to sell false expectations. Of course, ADU will continue working to try to find the financial guarantees that Valencia CF demand and need. From this moment, the door is open for other alternatives through which to finally carry out the project of completing construction of the new stadium.”

In this context of economic uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, what are the steps that Valencia CF are going to take from now on, mentioned in the press release as ‘analysing alternatives’? 
“We are going to evaluate different alternatives again. Since a long time ago, and especially in the last 12 months, a lot of work has already been done. There is a base there that helps us a lot. However, we have to look at it with the perspective that the COVID-19 global pandemic has created a lot of uncertainty and pressure for the financial situation worldwide -both for football clubs and the world in general.”

“This horrible current situation is having an impact on everybody, and is going to mean a big economic blow to investments, especially in infrastructures. Nobody knows when the economy is going to regain a certain normality, both in Spain and in the world, but we cannot wait for that and from this moment onwards we will continue looking for the best options.”

It is important to make clear that the operation to move stadiums remains a key project for Valencia CF, as the Ayuntamiento have been told.
“We have been informing the authorities of the situation at all times, working together with them. They are also aware of the current situation and our intentions. It’s also a very important operation for Valencian people who want to buy a house where Mestalla is currently located. We have close contact with the Ayuntamiento. Yesterday I told them of this decision. We share the same concerns and interest in the completion of this project as the administration; we have all supported the continuation of this cooperative proposal. We want to finish the stadium; it is a fundamental project for the club and for the city of Valencia.”