Football: BRILLIANT AIMAR CAN SEE VALENCIA LIFT TITLE.

Byline: SIMON BIRD

REACHING the UEFA Champions League final for the first time last season was a huge achievement for Valencia, but if anyone thought the club from south-eastern Spain would be resting on its laurels, the signing of Pablo Cesar Aimar should be evidence enough of their ambition.

Aimar was one of Argentina's hottest properties prior to his multi-million pound move from FC River Plate to Spain in January this year as replacement for Claudio Lopez, who had left for Lazio in the summer.

His debut for Valencia was in February against Manchester United in the second group stage of this season's Champions League, and in the 0-0 draw at the Mestalla Stadium it was his penetrating run and astute pass which set up Gaizka Mendieta for the best chance of the match.

Four days later he scored on his league debut away to Las Palmas, helping Valencia to a 2-0 win.

Aimar was born in Rio Cuarto in provincial Cordoba on November 3, 1979, and made his First Division debut with the great River Plate of Buenos Aires as a 16-year-old in 1996.

His first goal was not until February 1998, but it was not long before he was attracting comparisons with some of the greats of the past, notably Johan Cruyff.

Aimar attracted interest from some of the biggest names in European club football, including Barcelona and Inter Milan, but it was his fellow countryman, Hector Cuper, who secured his signature.

Cuper hailed him as a "great player" and stresses that he can play either as a link man between the midfield and the attack or as a second striker.

The Valencia coach was merely adding his voice to a growing chorus of praise for the boyish-looking 21-year-old.Shortly before his move to Europe he topped a poll as Argentina's best player, a view publicly endorsed by his illustrious predecessor at River, the Uruguayan Enzo Francescoli.

Diego Maradona agreed: "Valencia have taken the best player in Argentina," he said.

The player himself said: "The truth is that I'm a little surprised. I still feel too little for people to say I'm the best in the country.

"It's also a spur and a challenge. It's a ratification but it also means an extra responsbility, to try to keep improving.

"Probably they appreciated the fact that on and off the pitch I keep a low profile, I don't go looking for trouble or arguing. Also, I think that I represent a pleasing style: dribbling forward helping my team-mates."

Though he has tended to be played further forward at Valencia, Aimar made his name as an attacking midfielder. He was part of a River side whose forwards also included Juan Pablo Angel, Ariel Ortega and Javier Saviola - known collectively as the "the fantastic four".

In 1997, Aimar was a part of the Argentina team which won the FIFA World Youth Championship in Malaysia, and while his opportunities in the senior team have been restricted, many see him as a future great.

CAPTION(S):

GALLIC ADVICE: Fabien Barthez has a quiet word in Aimar's ear; TAKING ON THE BEST: Aimar and Ole Solskjaer clash