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Exclusive: Valencia youth coach Angulo urges Torres to resist Liverpool

Valencia youth-team coach Miguel Angulo hopes the club can retain Ferran Torres and Kang-in Lee.

At just 20 years of age, Torres is now one of Europe's brightest young stars after accumulating 88 first-team appearances over the past three seasons.

South Korea international Lee made his debut last season, and has won 11 first-team outings this season.

Both players are products of Valencia's academy, where Angulo now coaches. And the Spaniard, who played over 430 times for Los Che, is proud to see the club producing talent.

He told Tribalfootball.com: "It's great to see young players who have passed through our Academy and the lower ranks of the club to go on and play for the first team.

"I mean players like Ferran Torres, Kang-in Lee, (Toni) Lato, (Jose) Gayà and Carlos Soler. They are players who have been with the club for many years and I'm proud that they have all made the first team."

Torres' exploits have caught the eye of a number of clubs around the continent. Real Madrid, Liverpool and Barcelona are just some of the names interested in acquiring his signature.

But Angulo hopes that the talented winger chooses to continue his development at the Mestalla.

"Yes, I'm hoping that they will both stay at Valencia CF and carve out their spot in the team, little by little, and establishing themselves within the team.

"It's a question of time, showing their quality and talent and demonstrating the great players that they have been for many years at the club. I'm hoping that they will show all of this next season."

Angulo returned to Valencia as Juvenil A (U19) coach last summer.

He had previously spent time with the academy before becoming an assistant for Gary Neville during his ill-fated spell as first-team manager.

Speaking of his return, the 42-year-old said: "I have enjoyed taking charge of the 'Juvenil A' team very much. Training is something I'm very passionate about.

"In a previous epoch, I had already trained at the Valencia Academy. I was also assistant to Gary Neville during his time running the first team. I'm passionate about everything to do with football and if it's to do with my club, Valencia CF, even more so."

In a recent interview with Tribal Football, Angulo's ex-teammate Gaizka Mendieta echoed his calls for Torres to stay at the club.

"Ferran Torres is already very good and I'm sure there will be a lot of offers at the end of the season," Mendieta said.

"For the sake of Valencia, we hope to see him in the club for many years."

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