Unhappy Ayala desperate to leave Valencia

MADRID, Aug 11 (Reuters) Valencia's Argentine international centre back Roberto Ayala said he feels cheated by the club and wants to sign for regional rivals Villarreal.

The 33-year-old, whose deal with the club expires at the end of this season, said that Valencia have not kept their word about the duration of a new contract.

''I'm a professional, so if I have to finish my contract I will, but I'm not happy at the club,'' Ayala told a news conference in Valencia today.

''I respect the coach (Quique Sanchez Flores) but he knows that I can't be at 100 percent.

''There are people some 70 kilometres from here (in Villarreal) who value me more than the people here. I want to solve this problem as soon as possible, but my head is no longer at this club.'' Ayala, who was part of Argentina's World Cup squad, denied that his dispute with Valencia was over money.

''This is nothing to do with money,'' he said. ''I feel well paid here at Valencia, but I feel cheated. I wanted to stay here until the end of my career but that dream had now disappeared because certain people did not keep their word.'' Ayala joined Valencia from AC Milan in 2000 and has been the most influential player in the club's back four ever since.

He played a vital role in helping the club reach the Champions League final in 2001, win the Spanish league title in 2002 and win both the league and UEFA Cup in 2004.

The Argentine arrived late for training at the club after a visit to his home country last week and missed out on his side's 1-0 defeat to Salzburg in the third qualifying round of the Champions League.

Reuter AY DS1607