Romanian right-back Andrei Rațiu has remained with the Spanish team Rayo Vallecano for now, but it seems that things have spiraled out of control this summer, leading to an open conflict between the two camps.
The 26-year-old player, a regular for the Romanian national team, has been on the radar of several clubs this summer, including powerhouses Barcelona and Real Madrid, but so far, he has not left the team from the suburbs of Madrid.
The right-back has not left Spain, and Rayo Vallecano has paid 5 million euros to Villarreal to acquire the remaining federative rights of the Romanian player, who is now valued at 25 million euros.
Rayo does not want to sell the Romanian for less than 25 million, and tensions have been confirmed by the Romanian player, who posted a cryptic message on social media: "What is shown is only half of the story. And those who speak are not always what they seem to be."
UnionRayo, a portal known for news about Rayo Vallecano and its players, commented on Rațiu's situation, a player who is deeply disappointed and feels he is not allowed to leave after contributing significantly to the team's return to Europe after about 30 years of waiting:
"Rațiu's situation at Rayo is complex and tense, as a Premier League club has shown interest in him and would be willing to offer him a very advantageous salary. However, Rayo Vallecano has turned down an 18 million euro offer for the Romanian, which has disappointed the player, as he saw this move as an opportunity to advance in his career and financially.
For Rațiu, the possibility of being transferred for 25 million euros and signing a much better contract than the current one would have been a significant step forward. And for Rayo, such a sum would have been a 'lifeline' for bringing in new players. Nevertheless, the club is clinging to the release clause and does not seem willing to let him go for less," wrote the Spaniards at UnionRayo.com.
Additionally, the Spaniards at As.com report that a Premier League team made an 18 million euro offer for Andrei Rațiu, willing to pay him a huge salary, "10 times larger than at Rayo." Initially, the name of the Premier League club interested in Andrei Rațiu was not disclosed, but the Spaniards at Gola note that it is Aston Villa.
D.A.