Valencia chief Mateu Alemany admits there was a chance they could've lost Rodrigo Moreno over the summer.

The striker was a top target for Real Madrid.

And Alemany admitted: "Have we been afraid of Rodrigo's departure? We had to be prepared. We were prepared for this situation.

"Fortunately, this situation did not happen because we set the bar high, dissuasive, but some operations were certainly done in anticipation of this possible departure so to not find ourselves in the situation of a player who leaves and we must overpay.

"Negotiations with Real Madrid? There was no negotiation with Real Madrid. I spoke with several clubs, but there was no direct negotiation. He extended seven months ago and he has a clause."