VIDEO: Soldado bids farewell to Valencia

Incoming Tottenham striker Roberto Soldado pleaded with his new club to keep Gareth Bale despite reports suggesting that the latter is close to a completing a switch to join Real Madrid.

The Spanish striker fired a parting shot at the Valencia president Amaedo Salvo while at the airport as he waited to board a flight to England to undergo a medical at Tottenham today.

Soldado insisted that the decision to leave Valencia was entirely his and is looking forward to a fresh start at Tottenham Hotspur. He will join Spurs for a club record £25.8million deal.

He told reporters: “I’m very hopeful, but I feel a weird sensation because I’m leaving Valencia after three unforgettable years for me and my family, but I’m very grateful to the fans, the club and my team mates. I wish all the best to them all. It´s new project, new change in my life for me and my family and to keep growing.”

“It is a good deal for Valencia and for me. All this time I didn’t say a word to harm Valencia’s club image and the transfer itself until everything was totally clear. I’m leaving because I don’t have trust in the new project. The President all this time was telling me lies several times since I was talking by phone with him. I thought the deal could be done with transparency and sincerity but it was not. All the best for my team mates, good luck to Valencia fans. Me and my family will have them all in our hearts.”

“The most important thing was that one team was very interesting on me and since I talked with the President everything was totally clear for me and I knew that I wanted to leave. This decision was mine entirely and my family, no one was pushing me to go.

“Well I think everybody knows wich kind of player Gareth Bale is. A great player. We are watching the difficulties that the club is having to keep him, I hope he stays with Tottenham. I’ve got to go with the same attitude, together we must help so the club forget the players who are gone. I wish this at least.”