The cleanup needed in Valencia: Up to 11 players in the air

The latest news from Valencia CF revolves around the need to review a good part of their squad after the 0-3 defeat against Real Madrid at Mestalla. With the team in the lower zone of LaLiga, Braulio Vázquez will have to make decisions, and there are several players whose futures should be on the table for the upcoming season.

The team of Javier Aguirre was outperformed by the goals of Fede Valverde, Arda Güler, and Kylian Mbappé and remains 19th with 9 points after the first 12 matchdays. The coach himself later acknowledged Real Madrid's superiority and admitted that the performance shown explains the current standings. The 7 urgencies of Valencia that Braulio Vázquez is already working on.

#RealMadrid Mourinho confesses what he told Aguirre after the match: "Don't be sad because my players are much better than yours" https://t.co/MDZLrUqijg

— MARCA (@marca) November 7, 2026

Valencia CF: from Dimitrievski to Ugrinic, a defense and midfield to review

The first case is Stole Dimitrievski, a 32-year-old goalkeeper with a contract until 2028. His performance against Real Madrid was not the main issue, but his mistakes during the season raise questions about whether he should continue as the starting goalkeeper.

In defense are José Copete and Mouctar Diakhaby. Physical problems have limited their availability, and Valencia CF needs players who are regularly available in a position where Braulio Vázquez already acknowledged in October that he wanted to bring in another center-back.

There is also Pablo Maffeo, who is 29 years old. He arrived on loan from Olympiacos until the end of the season, and there is an option to keep him for two additional seasons. His performance needs to improve significantly to justify the club taking that option.

The situation of Dimitri Foulquier seems clearer, as his contract ends in June 2027 and he has not managed to be a significant player this season.

In midfield, there are two different cases. Pepelu, with a contract until 2028, still has marketability and the ability to contribute, but he needs to regain consistency. More concerning is Filip Ugrinic, contracted until 2029, whose performance has been a nightmare; no one remembers the last 'good' thing he did on the pitch, making this a season to forget and weep over.

Javier Aguirre has several pending decisions in attack

The forward line also needs changes. Arnaut Danjuma, at 29 years old, started against Real Madrid, but his offensive contribution is far from justifying a significant role for the upcoming season. If the Dutchman is on the pitch, Valencia is effectively playing with one less player.

Luis Rioja, at 33 years old and under contract until 2027, represents another case that compels consideration of rejuvenating a squad that needs to elevate its competitive pace. For a Valencia CF looking to rebuild within Spain's football, freeing up veteran slots could create space for new signings.

The situation of Dani Raba, at 31 years old, is less urgent. He is back available for Javier Aguirre and could prove useful as a rotational player, but a reasonable offer should be considered. His contract also expires in 2027.

The clearest case is Hugo Duro. The forward, at 26 years old, is under contract until 2028 and has an estimated gross salary of 4.17 million euros per season. His diminishing role with Javier Aguirre makes his contract an important issue for sports planning.

The immediate priority remains to get out of the relegation zone, but the upcoming market should serve for Braulio Vázquez to redefine a squad that needs changes. Valencia CF cannot face another season with the same issues of availability, performance, and salary balance if it wants to regain positions in Spain.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La limpieza que se necesita en el Valencia: Hasta 11 jugadores por los aires