Valencia sack Sporting Director, CEO may discipline veteran

Valencia have had a tumultous week away from the pitch during the international break, which has been capped off by a major departure. Sporting Director Miguel Angel Corona has left the club after being sacked.

Corona has been in place since 2020 at Valencia, arriving under the Peter Lim regime. Los Che have often been criticised for selling some of their star players on the cheap, while Corona has been given little credit for the finds they have made. Given the clubs austerity policy, he has been working in tricky conditions for some years.

Corona lands new job less than 24 hours later

The writing had been on the wall since the summer, when it was reported that CEO of Football Ron Gourlay was thinking through a restructuring of the sporting department, as reported by Cadena Cope. Corona’s position was already in question before this summer, but after Carlos Corberan did not receive any of his preferred choices in midfield or in attack this summer, he became the fall guy.

It has not taken him long to find a new position though. In recent weeks, with his time at Valencia ticking, Corona was linked to Panathinaikos, and on Friday he was appointed their sporting director.

Gourlay considering disciplinary action for Dimitrievski

Another matter on Gourlay’s agenda is Stole Dimitrievski. The North Macedonian goalkeeper launched scathing criticism of Los Che during an interview earlier this week, and Diario AS explain that Gourlay will speak with Dimitrievski about it. Depending on his explanations, the 31-year-old could face disciplinary action from the club.

Valencia plans for January transfer market

Off the back of said disappointing summer transfer window, and with a poor start to the season, Valencia intend to be active in January. A central midfielder, a striker and a centre-back remain priorities, while a right-back addition hinges on their budget.

It has been a tricky campaign for Corberan, with Valencia sitting 17th, level on points with Girona in the relegation zone. Los Che have just two wins from their opening 12 matches, and after the optimism accumulated from the latter stages of last season was doused, now look set for another survival battle.