Just look at the difference a week makes. Things felt like they were going awry at the start of the year as Valencia hovered just above the LaLiga relegation zone.
But a win against Elche and more importantly, the swift securing of personnel to bolster the squad for the second half of the season bring a breath of hope. First, leading defender Gabriel Paulista agreed to a contract extension. Then, Cristiano Piccini was brought back from his Atalanta loan to bring a wealth of right-back options to a depleted backline.
Add the promotion of promising winger Alex Blanco to the first team, and of course, a triple loan signing right at the death of the January transfer window, and the Bats are taking wing. Some manner of confidence is coursing through the corridors of the club again, and boss Javi Gracia will likely be far more pleased with his options, having made no secret of the need to strengthen the squad.
It is a literal beefing up of the squad too, which will no doubt delight the former defensive midfielder turned manager, who prizes physicality as a defining element of his teams. Imposing players like Etienne Capoue and Troy Deeney took Gracia’s Watford to a momentous FA Cup Final in 2019. This January, Valencia have added muscle in Ferro, Patrick Cutrone and Christian Oliva.
Francisco Reis Ferreira, better known as Ferro, 23, has been a defensive colossus for Benfica, and was heralded in the club’s youth system as he rose through the Portuguese youth ranks with Premier League phenom Diogo Jota. Besides being a towering, tenacious presence, he also offers Gracia elegant passing ability at the back. This will help the team’s transitions to attack, as well as the ability to break an opponent’s press – so crucial in modern football.
Possibly playing in front of Ferro will be Christian Oliva, 24, a tough-tackling Uruguayan defensive midfielder from the trenches of Serie A side Cagliari, who are embroiled in a relegation dogfight. Uros Racic in the No. 6 role has been the star find for Los Che this season, but it will be heartening to know the Serbian enforcer will be able to take a rest with Oliva in the ranks, freeing Daniel Wass to wreak havoc down the right flank.
Finally, up front. The club have sorely missed Maxi Gomez when he has been out this season, lacking a crucial focal point for attacks – someone to put their head where it hurts and to be a general nuisance for defenders. Ruben Sobrino, who has left on loan for Cadiz, is not that man. Enter Italian Patrick Cutrone, 23, who is of great stock. His potential remains unfulfilled since he left AC Milan in 2019 for 18 million euros, and Gracia will be looking to extract every ounce of talent from the starlet many compare to legend Christian Vieri with his buccaneering style.
Injecting much-needed steel to the team’s spine during the window is fantastic business by the club while keeping a keen eye on the budget. In a climate where sellers know of buyers’ desperation – just look at how European giants Liverpool have struggled and exhausted numerous options in their centre-back search – Gracia and the team have been handed an improbable morale-boosting triple shot. All to play for in the LaLiga then.
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