Valencia insist Real Madrid allowed Manchester City star David Silva to slip through their hands.

Valencia president Manuel Llorente revealed in November that his club were in advanced talks with Madrid over Silva but Real suddenly ended talks when ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho arrived on the scene.

Llorente said: "Real Madrid were willing to sign Silva but with the change of coach, everything stopped. It was then that Manchester City came in and we reached a deal.

"We had several discussions with Madrid for the transfer of Silva and they wanted him. But one day they called us and told us their priorities had changed."