Australian national team Keeper Mathew Ryan has made the biggest transfer of his career to La Liga giant Valencia signing a 6 year deal. Ryan has shown his pedigree at international level with stand out performances at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in which he was rewarded with AFC Golden Glove and a position in the AFC dream team.
Mathew hasn’t disappointed at club level either with Goal Keeper of the year in both Australia with Central Coast Mariners (2011-12) and in Belgium with Club Brugge (2013-14 and 2014-15) among other awards.
The Spanish La Liga will definitely be a step up for Ryan as Valencia finished forth last season just behind Barcelona, Real Madrid and Athetico Madrid. This may seem like an amazing move for Ryan however, Ryan will face stiff competition for a position between the posts from Brazilian international Diego Alves and Spanish youth international Yoel Rodríguez Oterino. Ryan’s main rival Diego Alves has 100 games for Valencia and 8 appearances for Brazil but is recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, while Oterino has 78 appearances at Spanish team Celta de Vigo and 2 for Valencia and the Spanish 19’s under team.
Although Ryan’s quest to be the number one shot stopper at Valencia may not be easy, he has shown time and time again he can match it with the best. It is our belief with his quick reflexes and his ability to play as a sweeper at the back, that Ryan will have a successful time in Valencia.
