Valencia snap up Unai Núñez on loan after Italian job comes to an end
The Basque defender has returned to Spain from Hellas Verona, joining Valencia on loan with a potential option to buy after personal intervention from Carlos Corberán.
Basque defender Unai Núñez has touched down in Valencia to complete his loan move to the Mestalla outfit, with the deal between Valencia, Celta Vigo and Hellas Verona finally sorted after last-minute negotiations on Thursday evening.
From Serie A to saving Valencia’s season
The 28-year-old centre-half arrives from Hellas Verona, where he was on loan from Celta Vigo. Despite being a regular starter in Italy with 18 appearances under his belt this season (17 in Serie A), the Italian club gave the green light for his departure after considering the player’s desire to return to Spain.
Núñez seemed proper chuffed with the move, telling reporters at Manises Airport: “I’m very happy things have been sorted out.” When asked about his fitness and availability for the weekend, he was bullish: “Physically I’m perfect.”
Corberán’s defensive crisis solved?
Valencia have been in desperate need of defensive reinforcements after losing:
- Mouctar Diakhaby (out for the remainder of the season)
- César Tárrega (currently sidelined through injury)
The move represents a significant boost for manager Carlos Corberán, who specifically requested a player with La Liga experience who could hit the ground running. Núñez ticks all the boxes, having accumulated over 1,300 minutes of competitive football this season alone.
Deal details
The agreement will see Núñez join Valencia until the end of the season, reportedly with an option to buy. This structure fits within the club’s financial parameters and completes a transfer pursuit that originally began last summer without reaching fruition.
The defender has already had initial contact with Corberán, stating: “I’ve spoken with him, but I need to talk more with him in person, so we’ll take it step by step.”
Núñez also expressed his excitement about playing at Mestalla as a home player: “Mestalla is a fantastic stadium with incredible fans. We hope to give them plenty to cheer about.”
The loan will be officially completed once the player passes his medical examination and puts pen to paper on his new sporting contract.