Report: Nicolas Otamendi asks Valencia not to play him ahead of move to Premier League

Valencia defender Nicolas Otamendi has reportedly asked not to play or train with the club as he anticipates the completion of a switch to the English Premier League.

Otamendi has been linked to a big-money move to either Manchester United or Manchester City, and the Argentine center-back has asked to be excused from training, with Spanish news outlet AS reporting that Otamendi said he was "not in the right frame of mind."

It appears Otamendi doesn't want to risk injury ahead of the potential move away from Valencia.

"Don't select me anymore, I'm not going to play," Otamendi said, according to Marca. "I've got big money at stake."

The 27-year-old joined Valencia last season and had a tremendous year with Los Che, scoring six goals and making La Liga's Team of the Season. Valencia isn't too keen to sell the Argentine international, and is reportedly sticking firm to Otamendi's €50-million release clause.

It may be a price too high for Manchester United, while the English side's rivals, Manchester City, are considering a bid of €45 million, according to Marca.