VALENCIA - Valencia coach Ronald Koeman has hinted captain David Albelda and veteran keeper Santiago Canizares could leave the club in January.
The pair have been left out of Koeman's squad for the upcoming matches against Real Union Club in the Copa del Rey and the final Primera Liga game of the year at Real Zaragoza.
And the Dutchman has indicated their Mestalla futures are now uncertain.
"It was a strong decision and it needed the backing of the president," he said. "He agreed with me that even though these are important players, for these two games they will not be with us.
"With respect to Canizares and Albelda I have explained everything to them. They are not young.
"We decided that they will not be in the squad. They will not play in the next two games and this is the time to think hard about the future."
Koeman has been in charge at Valencia for just over a month but has seen the side go from bad to worse - Saturday's defeat to Barcelona saw them set a new club record for the longest run without scoring a goal, which now stands at over six matches.
His decision to leave out 30-year-old Albelda and Canizares, 38 on Tuesday, will send shockwaves through the club.
Spain keeper Canizares, whose contract expires in 2009, has been at the club since 1998 while fellow international Albelda, who is contracted to Valencia until 2011, has spent all of his career there apart from two stints on loan at Villarreal.
"These are strong decisions that have to be taken for the good of Valencia and that is the most important thing," added Koeman.
"I see other younger players as better able to change things."
