Not many players are the subject of £31 million bids from Real Madrid and then get released by Brighton & Hove Albion later on in their career, but former Valencia wing wizard Vicente Rodriguez managed to achieve that unique feat. Now 33 years old and retired since hanging up his boots in April, in his pomp Vicente was a nightmare for full-backs, using his quick feet and devastating pace to destroy opponents for Valencia. It was because of his incredible season for Los Che, during which they won the league and UEFA Cup, that sparked the interest of the Real Madrid hierarchy - so much so that they lodged a mammoth £31 million bid for the Spanish wingers services.
''I was at Euro 2004 in Portugal with the national side when Florentino Perez told me he wanted to sign me. He did not convince me as I just wanted to renew with Valencia and he president said now. Real Madrid made a 36 million offer for me, but Valencia turned the bid down. That was the end of the Madrid links. - Vicente Rodriguez, May 2011.
Unfortunately for the man who terrorised defenders up and down Spain during the 03/04 season, he never came close to repeating those exploits, failing to muster more than six league goals in any campaign over the last decade, consistently failing to register over 30 league appearances per season due to a constant spate of injuries. Having been forced to stew at a financially-stricken club, alongside Roberto Ayala, the pair might just discussed how green the grass might have been at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
