Real Madrid general manager Jorge Valdano has hailed the performance of striker Gonzalo Higuain after his hat-trick helped destroy Real Valladolid 4-1.

The Argentine has been blasted in the media after his astonishing miss against Lyon cost Real a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League this season.

Higuain returned to action against Valladolid on Sunday, scoring a hat-trick in Madrid's 4-1 win at the Jose Zorilla stadium and afterwards Valdano stated that they were in the early stages of negotiations on a new deal for the 22-year-old.

"He [Higuain] has made a tremendous reaction, because he is a high class player and character. He has suffered a lot this week because we have done him an injustice. He is accused of being selfish when a striker by definition is greedy. You cannot be condemned for one moment after three impeccable years," he is quoted as saying by AS.

"We are talking with him, but we have much plenty of time, so we are calm. We would like not only that he would renew but to finish his career here."