Villarreal resigned to losing Ayala to Zaragoza

MADRID, July 15 (Reuters) Villarreal are resigned to losing Argentina captain Roberto Ayala to Real Zaragoza, even though the centre back has yet to play a game for them.

Zaragoza sprung one of the surprises of the close season by announcing yesterday that Ayala would rescind his contract with Villarreal to join them on a three-year deal.

The 34-year-old agreed in February to join Villarreal when his contract with Valencia expired in June, after talks over an extension broke down with the club he had been stalwart for since 2000.

"We have spent the last few days speaking to Zaragoza, but we didn't reach an agreement, so they have decided to buy him out of his contract," Villarreal chief executive Jose Manuel Llaneza was quoted as saying in sports daily Mundo Deportivo today.

"I have nothing more to say. Am I surprised? No, I'm not." Spanish media reported Zaragoza would pay the buy-out clause of six million euros to take the player, who will replace fellow Argentine Gabriel Milito following his move to Barcelona last week.

Zaragoza, who finished sixth in the Primera Liga last season, sold Milito to Barca for a fee that could reach 20.5 million euros.

Villarreal, who finished fifth, had signed Ayala as a free agent.

Both clubs will compete in the UEFA Cup next season.

Reuters BJR RN1512