Almost five months after his departure from Liga de Quito - by mutual agreement - Ecuadorian international Antonio Valencia could become a player for Querétaro in the Liga MX for the Clausura 2021 tournament, according to information developed by ESPN and confirmed by the environment of the former Manchester United captain to EL UNIVERSO.
The 35-year-old Amazonian player would be in the Querétaro club with his compatriot and friend Jefferson Montero, who, through the football representation agency Pentacorp Sport, is known to be playing for that Mexican team for the next two years.
According to the sources consulted, the approach has been positive and, if it continues like this, the signing could be finalized next week," ESPN said on its website with extension in Mexico.
Meanwhile, a source from Toño Valencia's closest circle responded to EL UNIVERSO: "The information that ESPN has published is real."
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With a wide career in Europe and the United Kingdom, Valencia would be the second world-renowned figure to join the Querétaro team after the passing of the Brazilian star Ronaldinho Gaúcho from 2014 to 2015.
Born in Lago Agrio, Sucumbíos province, Valencia returned to Ecuadorian football after fourteen years, hired by Liga de Quito on June 28, 2019.
Valencia left the country in 2005, with Spain as his gateway to Europe. His first club was Villarreal, he went on to Recreativo de Huelva, and in 2006 he moved to England signing with Wigan Athletic, finally joining Manchester United in 2009. At Old Trafford, he was captain and reference with the Red Devils in competitions such as the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and Europa League over the last ten seasons.
In his great stage with United (ten seasons), Toño won nine titles: two Premier League and one Europa League; he also played a Champions League final against FC Barcelona.
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As an albo, he left different marks. During his discreet 371-day stay at Casa Blanca, he won the Copa Ecuador and the Supercopa Ecuador. In the 2020 Copa Libertadores, he played in the 3-0 victory over River Plate, in Quito, and in the 3-0 defeat against Sao Paulo, in Brazil (Group D).
Montero, a favorable point for Gallos in negotiations
According to ESPN's publication, "Jefferson Montero's friendship has influenced a lot for the negotiations with Querétaro to succeed." Montero, a new reinforcement for that club, was Valencia's teammate in the Selección during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and they shared several moments in the United Kingdom, even being rivals in the Premier League when the Amazonian played for Manchester United and the riosense played for the Welsh Swansea City.
"Another favorable point in the negotiations is that Gallos negotiates directly with the player and his environment, since he is a free agent, not belonging to any club."
"The talks, for now, continue and, if they progress further, they could cause the player to arrive in Mexico as soon as Sunday or at the beginning of the following week, pending medical examinations and signing his bond with the team," ESPN adds regarding the possible landing of Toño Valencia in a league where the Ecuadorian footballer has succeeded and, in several cases, has served as a springboard to reach the Old Continent.
Earlier this year, the tricolor was linked to Vasco da Gama in Brazil. (D)