Blackburn Rovers director of football Gregg Broughton has said that Rovers did not receive any offers that matched their valuation for Ben Brereton Diaz.
Brereton left Ewood Park in the summer after five years at the club, joining Villarreal in La Liga on a free transfer after his contract expired.
Broughton explained that there was a ‘critical decision-making process’ behind Brereton’s departure.
“I came into the club in June last year and at that stage, it was clear he wasn’t going to sign a new contract,” Broughton told the Lancashire Telegraph.
“Last summer was a critical decision-making process and our owners had a very clear price they had set for him.
“The summer before, they used the same tactic with (Adam) Armstrong and in the end I think Southampton paid above what their valuation was in order for him to go there. I completely understand why they wanted to same strategy for Ben last summer.
“We didn’t have offers that got anywhere near what their valuation was so with about a week to go in the window, we had to make a critical decision.
Do we sell him under that value and try to recoup some of it or do we keep him because of the value he adds to the team? We made that call knowing he was unlikely to extend his contract.”
More to come from Brereton Diaz
Ben Brereton Diaz is yet to make a goal contribution so far in Spain, but Broughton believes he will go far.
“Ben is a terrific footballer and I think he will go on to have a great career in Spain and continuing with the national team in Chile.”