The Spanish giants’ president Layhoon Chan said both clubs were currently engaged in discussions, and was confident that future cooperation between them could assist JDT to achieve its goal.

“I think both clubs have the same objective, and hopefully we can realise it (the academy) as soon as possible, since both the clubs’ management are in discussion right now,” she told reporters during a training session between JDT and some Valencia CF players at JDT’s training ground in Padang Sri Gelam, here, Thursday.

When asked on the form of cooperation and assistance which would be extended by the club to JDT to build the academy, Chan said they were likely to provide coaches from Spain to train local players as well as the coaches here.

She was duly impressed by JDT and described the club as “lucky”, because it possessed a more sophisticated and modern training facility compared with some of the top clubs in Europe.

Chan said the situation in Europe was different where most clubs only had facilities that were ‘aged’ after being in operation for far too long.

“Even for ourselves (Valencia), our training centre has been there maybe more than 20 years, and we are now looking at how to upgrade and expand it as well,” she said, adding that the visit today was to look at opportunities on how both football clubs could improve their performances.

Chan arrived here at around 11am, accompanied by several technical and marketing officers from Valencia CF and La Liga, including team head coach Pako Ayestaran and five players, namely Matthew Ryan, Santiago Mina, Jaume Domenech, Javi Fuego and Paco Alcacer.

– BERNAMA