Málaga cites Ramadan for Valencia payment delay

When Valencia checked its bank account on July 25 to see if Málaga had deposited the six million euros it owed for the buy-out clause in Spain under-21 midfielder Isco's contract, it found its coffers light by the same amount. Mired in debt, Valencia complained about the non-payment to the Professional Football League and Málaga, a club with the financial might of Qatar's ruling dynasty behind it, was told it must either come up with the cash before August 30 or it will not be able to register players signed subsequently - in this case its record transfer, Spain international Santi Cazorla.

Valencia, which also sold Joaquín to the Andalusian club this summer, accuses Málaga of "arrogance." Losing two of its best players to a direct rival for Champions League qualification through financial straits is chastening enough, and The Anchovies' refusal to loosen its purse strings has left a bitter taste indeed.

Málaga, though, has a reason for the delay: "Evidently, Ramadan makes communication difficult," said José Carlos Pérez, a club director. "Our [bank] transfers come from Qatar and the requirements are delayed by a few days, as happened with Lyon and [Jérémy] Toulalan. Valencia can check the reference at the bank in Doha, of which our Sheikh is the majority shareholder. We'll pay Valencia the interest for these 10 days of delay."

Villarreal, meanwhile, seems unconcerned about its 19 million euros, pending from the sale of Cazorla. "We're sure the money will arrive without any problems," said a club director.