Former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdés will sign for Manchester United this week after recovering from a serious knee injury. But what does a deal for the 32-year-old Spanish international say about the future of incumbent number one, David de Gea?
Valdés has been training with United since October in a bid to recover from the anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained against Celta Vigo last season. Now fully fit, Valdés is set to ink an 18-month contract with United, after missing much of Barcelona’s campaign last year together with the World Cup in Brazil. As a free agent Valdés is eligible to register for any team during the winter transfer window.
Despite the serious nature of his injury Valdés comes with an illustrious past, having won six La Liga and three Champions League titles with Barcelona, before departing at the end of last season. Valdes, who spent 12 years at Barcelona before leaving Camp Nou for a fresh challenge, had initially agreed to join Monaco before the French club pulled out of the deal following the player’s injury.
Yet, for all his trophies Valdés also harbours critics, with the Spaniard both short for a top-level stopper and not always dominant under the high ball – a skillset that will certainly be tested in the Premier League.
United’s deal for Valdés will likely end reserve Anders Lindegaard’s time at Old Trafford this winter, but it is the future of De Gea that fascinates most. The 23-year-old was named United’s Player of the Season last year; an honour he must surely be favourite to retain at the half-way stage of the campaign. Yet, with just 18 months left on De Gea’s contract, and Real Madrid reportedly interested, there appears little guarantee the former Atletico Madrid player will remain at Old Trafford beyond next summer.
In this context Valdés’ acquisition could be a precursor to De Gea’s inevitable departure, with the younger man seemingly not keen to extend his stay at United. Alternatively, it may well simply be good business for an experienced ‘keeper that will provide fresh competition to his compatriot.
[poll id=”96″]
hope not… Deal for only 18 months, but de Gea needs to sign a new contract.
Remember where he came from? It’s like Citeh, United. Offer him a better deal than Madrid, he’s staying.
Valdes in Dave out?……fu@king kidding me right??
the poll measures wishful thinking rather than cold pragmatic reality
Lol as one of the people who voted ‘most illustrious backup’, yes it does measure wishful thinking, something about hope springing eternal and all that 😉
Wish i shared the positivity of 70% of the voters here. Just feel that De Gea will not spend another significant part of his life in a different country to his unbelievable partner! http://instagram.com/p/w6nOIvPUwP/?modal=true
we’ll be able to judge if lindegaard stays/go’s
Strange things do happen but if United allow De Gea(its best/greatest asset) to move to Madrid, then we shall seize to claim the biggest club and our reputation will be in ruins. I hope somebody is listening.
Hopefully signing Valdez is just insurance. However if De Gea is used as a part exchange sweetener to get Gareth Bale to United, then I can live with that.
Can you live with DDG/Mata and a big bag of cash in exchange for Messi ?
I reckon I could manage to live with that.
I thought we were just signing him so Liverpool doesn’t get him? Chelski did the same with Willian last year. I think it was the reason we were linked with Cavani in the fall as well.
I think that might very well be correct, especially since the contract is just 18 months (which is rather non-standard). And it makes sense too. If your opponents lose out, you (kinda) win.
I imagine that regardless of whether De Gea leaves or not he will sign an extension, like Ronaldo did before he left: boosts how much United can get.
Also, why is everyone thinking that De Gea will go to Madrid? DDG is from Atletico. I think Barca is more likely.