Dear Guaje…

Why? You’ve made a lot of people sad in the last couple of hours. Fans that adored you. Children that looked up to you. Valencia CF was the team where you grew, matured and consolidated the tricky art of scoring goals. And you seemed to master it effortlessly. Why Atlético de Madrid? Could this be considered a… *gasp*… betrayal on your part?

Yes, maybe we *are* overreacting a little. After all, you left in 2010 leaving behind good memories, dozens of goals and a nice little sack of money. Forty millions, indeed. More than enough to compensate Valencia, who lost with your transfer –and Silva’s, and Mata’s- most of its competitive edge.

No hard feelings, though: the club needed the money, and you were keen on trying new experiences in a squad with the power and resources to win it all. Alas, it took you only a couple of months to achieve what most players never do in a lifetime. You became the World Cup’s top scorer, you seamlessly integrated in the Barça machine-like playing style and you won the Spanish League and the UEFA Champions League. Not bad for your first season out of Valencia, don’t you think?

Ah, the memories! Surely you remembered the good times here when, in a series of infortunate events, you broke your leg in Japan. An injury that, in same cases, can be career-ending. Not in your case. You were too tough, too resilient, too hungry though you had won everything. You had it inside. So, after a long and painful year recovering from your surgery, you came back… but nothing was the same. Your performance was surprisingly -and understandingly- lacking. And that was as painful to watch.

Valencia fans have followed you across the years. Cheered your goals with the national team and, even if it defies the purpose of supporting the Mestalla team, in some cases even celebrating when you scored as a Barça player. And always praying that, someday, they would watch you play again with the black and white shirt. Awaiting your homecoming. You were *that* important.

Yesterday Atlético de Madrid, in a swift move, broke many Valencianista’s dreams. You did, as well, accepting the transfer. And I think you’ll become aware of this in a couple of years. Your salary is too high and, let’s be serious, right now its too risky to offer you a long contract. But Valencia would have offered you something more than hard, cold cash. This is, and always will be, your home. The same way you’ve always stated that you would like to retire as a Sporting de Gijón player, performing another run for a couple of years in Mestalla was always a good option. Your move to Atlético erases this possibility.

So, dear David, dear Guaje, even if it’s painful, we must come to terms with this… It’s sad, but necessary. It’s time to say goodbye.

 

Paco Polit (@pacopolit)

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