Valencia waiting on Unai Núñez paperwork as defender completes medical
Carlos Corberán hopes to have the Basque centre-back available for Espanyol clash as Valencia look to bolster injury-hit defence with the former Hellas Verona man.
Valencia are racing against the clock to register Unai Núñez in time for their upcoming fixture against Espanyol, with Carlos Corberán eager to include the Basque defender in his squad as soon as the loan deal is officially processed.
Medical complete, awaiting international clearance
Núñez arrived in Valencia on Friday afternoon from Italy, where he’s been playing for Hellas Verona during the first half of the season. The centre-back has already completed his medical examinations at Valencia’s training complex in Paterna - the final step before officially signing his contract.
The defender brings valuable match fitness to Corberán’s squad, having played 18 matches and over 1,300 minutes between Serie A and the Coppa Italia this season.
Meeting the gaffer
During his visit to Paterna, Núñez met his new teammates and manager Corberán for the first time. The Spanish coach has been desperate to strengthen his backline following injuries to key defenders Mouctar Diakhaby and César Tárrega.
Corberán views Núñez as someone who can make an immediate impact - a player familiar with La Liga who won’t need an extended adaptation period. This aligns perfectly with what he’d discussed in meetings with Valencia’s Football CEO Ron Gourlay.
Fast-tracking integration
Following his medical, Núñez headed straight to the team hotel where new signings typically stay, joining the rest of the squad regardless of whether his transfer paperwork has been processed in time.
The club is doing everything possible to accelerate his integration into the team dynamics, especially given their defensive crisis. Corberán has been forced into makeshift solutions in recent weeks, including deploying midfielder Pepelu as a centre-back during their match in Getafe.
Squad situation
Valencia’s current squad includes Dimtrievski, Abril, Pere Joan, Foulquier, Iranzo, Copete, Cömert, Fontanet, Panach, Marcos Navarro, Vázquez, Rioja, Diego López, Ramazani, Danjuma, Raba, Pepelu, Ugrinic, Guerra, Santamaria, Almeida, Hugo Duro, Beltrán and Sadiq.
Núñez would be a proper Bobby Dazzler for a defence that’s been thinner than a supermodel on a crash diet. With his La Liga experience, Corberán will be hoping the paperwork comes through sharpish so he can throw him straight into the mix against Espanyol.