AS: Rayo Vallecano Demand €30 Million to Release Full-Back Ratiu

According to AS, Rayo Vallecano require Fulham to pay Ratiu's €25 million release clause or accept an installment plan worth €30 million in total.

When the transfer window closed, Ratiu looked disappointed as his opportunity to join Fulham and move to the Premier League ultimately fell through. Rayo Vallecano rejected Fulham's €25 million offer, although it matched the player's release clause, because the English club planned to pay it in five installments. Club president Raul Martin Presa's alternative proposal was for payments of €6 million each installment, bringing the total transfer fee to €30 million. Fulham therefore gave up, and the Romania international remained at Vallecas.

Throughout the summer, there were only two or three formal contacts regarding the 28-year-old right-back, including one from an Italian top club, but none developed into serious negotiations. On August 28, Nottingham Forest made the first €25 million offer and planned to pay in installments, but Rayo Vallecano's president did not respond and the club then turned their attention to Crystal Palace's Colombian defender Daniel Munoz. Fulham later also submitted a €25 million offer, but they were likewise unable to pay the amount in one go and could not reach Presa, who even failed to answer Ratiu's own phone call.

Benat San Jose understood the impact the uncertainty over Ratiu's future had on him, so he did not start him in Monday's away match against Barcelona. On the final day of the transfer window, Presa resumed work, but there was very little time left for negotiations. Rayo Vallecano's possible right-sided replacements Daijiro Chirino, Ruben Sanchez and Antoñito Gorosabel had all already resolved their futures, so the club asked Fulham to either pay €25 million upfront or pay €6 million in each of five installments, for a total of €30 million. Ratiu was at the Ciudad Deportiva at the time and ultimately did not travel to England.

Last summer, Rayo Vallecano also rejected an €18 million offer from Wolves for Ratiu. In addition, Wolfsburg offered €13 million and Girona offered €6 million.

Before the match against Racing Santander, Benat San Jose said: “This is football. It is normal for players who performed well last season to receive offers, and it is also natural for them to want to take another step forward in their careers. It does not mean they are unhappy here. Andre did not reach his best condition to play against Barcelona at that time, and we decided to field other players who were in better form. Andre is a very professional player, always available for the squad and even for a starting role.” Ratiu is expected to start against Racing Santander.