Prandelli 'wanted 5 new signings' before quitting Valencia

Madrid - Former Italy boss Cesare Prandelli had asked for the "immediate" arrival of five players before resigning as coach of struggling Valencia, a top club official said Saturday.

Prandelli, 59, threw in the towel on Friday just three months after succeeding Pako Ayestaran.

Ayestaran went in September after the side failed to pick up a single point in its opening four league games of the season.

The club currently stands 17th level on points with third bottom Gijon.

Sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch told a press conference that Prandelli had demanded after Friday training five new experienced players - and he retorted the club could not afford them.

Prandelli said if new recruits did not materialise then he would quit that very day and did so, according to Garcia Pitarch.

Garcia Pitarch added that the club, whose president is Singaporean businesswoman Layhoon Chan, could only offer one player - either Chelsea's Nigerian midfielder Mikel John Obi or West Ham's Italian forward Simone Zaza.

Prandelli promptly met executive director Anil Murthy, who accepted his resignation.

Garcia Pitarch suggested that Prandelli was "a person who wanted to go and was looking for excuses to go."

"Three months, six points - it's not necessary to make excuses," he added.

Former Spanish footballer Salvador Gonzalez has taken temporary charge of the first team.