Harvey Elliott Faces Fresh Setback as Valencia Criticise Him for Being Overweight

Harvey Elliott's loan spell at Valencia is already running into trouble, with the Liverpool midfielder facing growing criticism over his fitness just weeks into his time in Spain.

Elliott moved to Valencia hoping for regular football after a difficult loan spell at Aston Villa, but has managed just 88 minutes across three substitute appearances in La Liga so far. Spanish outlet Marca has been particularly critical of his physical condition, reporting that he arrived well above his ideal playing weight, something being put down to a disrupted pre-season back at Liverpool.

It hasn't helped that things around him at the club have been chaotic too. Valencia sit 19th in La Liga after losing five of their first seven matches, a run so bad it cost head coach Carlos Corberan his job just days after Elliott arrived.

When he first joined, Elliott sounded optimistic about the move. "I wanted the opportunity to come here, play regularly and experience a different league," he said. "My goal is to regain my self-confidence, play freely and enjoy my football."

He also spoke positively about his early conversations with Corberan, shortly before the manager was sacked. "I had a few calls with Carlos Corberan, in which we talked about my objectives and what he expected of me as a player," he said. "The start of the season has been tricky, but there's still a long way to go."

Despite the criticism over his fitness, Elliott has tried to stay upbeat publicly. "See you after the break Valencianistas! We will continue to work and come back better, Thank you for your support," he posted on Instagram ahead of the international break.

This latest setback continues a difficult couple of years for Elliott. After losing his place under Arne Slot at Liverpool, he was sent out on loan to Aston Villa, where he played just 304 minutes, with manager Unai Emery reportedly limiting his game time to avoid triggering an obligation to buy clause worth £35 million. When he returned to Liverpool, new manager Andoni Iraola quickly made clear he wasn't part of his plans either. Elliott remains under contract at Anfield until 2028, but with Valencia under no obligation to sign him permanently next summer, his long term future is far from settled.

Valencia are covering most of Elliott's Premier League wages during the loan, making him the third highest earner in the squad, a financial commitment that has only added to the pressure and scrutiny around his slow start in Spain.

Elliott now has a crucial few weeks ahead to turn things around. The international break is effectively giving him a mini pre-season to work on his fitness and shed some weight before matches resume. He'll also need to quickly win over incoming head coach Javier Aguirre, who has only been given a contract until the end of the season and will be under pressure himself to get results, leaving Elliott little room for error if he wants regular game time.