Nando Off to Sunny Spain

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Liverpool striker Fernando Morientes has returned to Spain to join Valencia for an undisclosed fee.



The 30-year-old former Real Madrid striker has only been at Anfield for 16 months, but managed to score just 12 goals in 61 games.

His disappointing season was capped when he was left out of the Spanish squad for this summer's World Cup.

Morientes moved to Liverpool from Real Madrid for £6.3m in 2005 after he had excelled while on loan at Monaco. "Everybody at Liverpool would like to wish `Nando' all the best with his new club in Spain," said a statement on the Liverpool website.

Im sure Liverpool fans will be glad to have got some money for him and got him off their wage bill freeing them up to bring someone in.

Always been surprised just by how poor Morientes has been for Liverpool as i did believe he would be a great player as he did look like he would be suited to English football but it wasn't to be.

[all_funkt_up]

Well I cant say I am suprised to see Morientes heading back to Spain. Just didnt cut it did he? I supposed the fact that he only cost £6 million is a blessing eh, joined Valencia for an undisclosed fee but I cant imagine we are making too much of a loss on him.

I cant express how disappointed I was at this guy. I thought he was the missing piece of the jogsaw when he arrived. Instead he spent most of his time trudging around the pitch looking like the missing link....

Morientes agrees Valencia terms

Morientes struggled to adapt to the Premiership

Fernando Morientes has agreed personal terms with Valencia and is expected to complete his switch from Liverpool on Tuesday, subject to a medical. The clubs negotiated a move for an undisclosed fee on Thursday and the 30-year-old will sign a three-year deal with the option of a further year.

Morientes has been at Anfield for 16 months and managed to score just 12 goals in 61 games.

His lack of form saw him left out of Spain's squad for the World Cup.

Morientes moved to Liverpool from Real Madrid for £6.3m in 2005 after he had excelled while on loan at Monaco.

"Everybody at Liverpool would like to wish 'Nando' all the best with his new club in Spain," said a statement on the Liverpool website.

On Tuesday Morientes' agent Gines Carvajal said the striker would not return to Spain and would fulfil the remaining two years of his Liverpool contract.

Morientes made his first division debut with Albacete in 1993 and joined Real Zaragoza two years later where he went on to score 28 league goals in two seasons.

In 1997 Real Zaragoza sold him for £4.5m to Real Madrid.

The striker won three European Cups and two league titles with Real but the arrival of Ronaldo in 2002 limited his chances.

Morientes moved on loan to Monaco, helping the French club reach the Champions League final in 2004, before they were beaten 3-0 by Porto.

He returned to Real Madrid at the start of the 2004-2005 season, but the arrival of Michael Owen again pushed him down the striking pecking order at Real and in January 2005 he joined Liverpool.

Although Morientes will not be going to the World Cup he has an impressive strike rate for Spain, scoring 26 goals in 43 international appearances.

[CJ Mars]

Heard it was 3 million so not the worst piece of business in the world

[crowie]

Originally Posted by all_funkt_up

I cant express how disappointed I was at this guy. I thought he was the missing piece of the jogsaw when he arrived. Instead he spent most of his time trudging around the pitch looking like the missing link....

Couldn't agree more with you AFU. I thought he would be a great signing for Liverpool, especially after the CL season he had the year before. Had the look of a good all round striker, could come deep, lead the line, decent in the air, good touch, got goals but none of that happened.

Do you think its a case of the English game not suiting him or him simply being overrated?

[all_funkt_up]

Dont know Crowie. You think of the people he has faced this year (Gary Breen, the chuckle brothers at newcastle etc) and I dont 'buy it' that the Premiership is too tough. There are lots of very bad players in the Premiership, so its not that the standard of defending is better. Plus, the service received hasnt been that bad at all. Nando just wasnt very clinical, never looked fit and looked like he lost his bottle.

He is a trudger, one of the slowest players I have ever seen. That would have been ok if he could finish the chances he did get - alas no. I have yet to discover what he actually does well. Doesnt seem to head the ball, cant run with it, doesnt pass very well, isnt switched on like Litmanen for example, isnt fast, doesnt have a cool head etc etc. That said I am sure he is a lovely bloke and his mother loves him very much. Unlike that useless twat Cisse.