In Victor Valdes,Manchester United have signed one of Europe's finest goalkeepers, a man whoexcelled throughout Barcelona’s most successful era.
Barcelona-born, Valdes registered 535appearances in a 12-season career at Camp Nou and lifted 21 major honours inthe process, an impressive trophy haul that includes no fewer than threetriumphs in the UEFA Champions League. Although he had little chance with PaulScholes’ stunner in the competition’s 2008 semi-final, Valdes ultimately hadthe upper hand over United in the 2009 and 2011 finals.
In May 2013, Valdes announced his intention toleave Barcelona at the end of the following season and claimed he needed“different sources of motivation” from football. But any plans for a fairytaleending were denied when he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear inhis right knee during a routine 3-0 win over Celta Vigo in March 2014, and hesubsequently left as a free agent two months later.
Before departing, Valdes paid an emotional tribute to a host offormer colleagues, including a certain Dutch manager who was in charge at CampNou during the 2002/03 season. “Thank you to Louis van Gaal, forshowing the courage necessary to gamble on a talent that only he could see. Hebegan building this historic Barca side, which I have been privileged to bepart of. My heartfelt thanks.”
He began this season without a club – despite reported interestfrom Monaco and Liverpool. To aid his recovery from the ACL injury, he begantraining with United from October at the invitation of van Gaal and hassubsequently impressed enough to earn a contract at Old Trafford, where he willnow work with his former goalkeeping coach Frans Hoek.
So whatcan United fans expect from Valdes? When previously discussing his style ofgoalkeeping, the Spaniard highlighted the importance of footwork."Guardiola always told me that Valdesis of course an international colleague of United no.1 David De Gea, as well asJuan Mata. He was also part of Spain's historic triumphs at the 2010 World Cupand the 2012 European Championship, where he provided back-up to long-term no.1Iker Casillas. “He is an excellent person, a great lad with impeccablebehaviour,” said national-team coach Vicente Del Bosque. Chelsea midfielderCesc Fabregas - a colleague of Victor's for country and club - declared:"He's an example on the pitch and an exemplary team-mate."
Here's tothe charismatic goalkeeper earning more plaudits like this - not to mentionsome medals to add to his already vast collection - during his time at theTheatre of Dreams after an 18-month contract with an option for a further yearwas signed in January 2015.
Victor Valdes spoke to MUTV's Stewart Gardner immediately after signing for Manchester United. Here's a transcript of the interview which was first shown in full as part of the channel's Thursday Focusprogramme...
How does it feel to be a Manchester United player?
For me it is a pleasure to sign for Man United. It has been a hard recovery time from my injury and the first thing I want to say is thank you to Louis van Gaal for letting me work again with him and his team. This change is very important for me because my injury was very, very hard. United and everybody around United saved me and they looked after me, so I am very grateful for everybody around the world and for the manager for giving me the chance to be a United player.
What are your early impressions of the club and the squad?
The first day when I came here to the Aon Training Complex, I saw the big red letters of Manchester United. For me, it is like a dream. I played for Barca for a lot of years and that is also a big club, I have loved the club all my life. I think this is the same. It is a big club around the world with a lot of fans. The fans of United, I feel them always when I am living in the centre of Manchester. I think it is like a family. This is the same feeling as Barca. For me it is very nice and it is a pleasure to be a part of this family of Manchester United.
You mention your injury: are you now fully fit?
I hope so. I am very, very satisfied with my recovery and very happy to be on the pitch like a player again. That is most important for my brain and most important for my family. It is very, very nice for me.
There are lots of Spanish-speaking players at the club. Will that help you?
Of course, of course. I think that is the most important part for my recovery, to be with a lot of friends from the national team and speak Spanish. But also the other guys... Wayne [Rooney], the captain, was amazing with me on my first day when I came to the training ground. I cannot ask for any more, I am very grateful to the club.
Louis van Gaal gave you your debut at Barcelona. How important was he in the early stages of your career?
I always say the manager, Louis van Gaal, is the most important coach. When you are a young player and you have the first option, or the first chance, to play in the first-team of Barca... and the manager gave me that option when I was 20 years old. This is the most important person in your career, I think. Now we are together again and he brings me another chance in my life. For me it is a pleasure to play under Louis van Gaal and it is very important to show him good things for my career.
You are now working with David De Gea - what have you made of his development at United?
I think now, in the moment, he is the best goalkeeper in the world. His performance every day and in every game shows everybody that his level is very high. He has had a great year and it is very nice. Now I think he is the best goalkeeper in the world.
Are you going to try to provide competition for him?
I am here to help everybody. Always in my career, I have played to help my team-mates, to help my coach and to help everybody. I am a part of the team and I am not a problem, I am just a part of the team. If I play a game, I am always thinking about playing well and to help the other team-mates, to help them to win the match.
You have won so much in your career, so what ambitions do you have now?
The same trophies! When you have won the most important trophies in football, it is like a drug. You want to win again and you feel these amazing moments with your fans, with your family and with your team-mates. It is very nice and my ambition is to win every game and every trophy.
You played at Old Trafford just once with Barcelona, so are you looking to playing here in a United shirt?
Yeah, it is a dream come true for me. After the Camp Nou, I think it is the most important stadium in the world. When you are listening to the atmosphere, or maybe when you are playing Manchester United at Old Trafford, you are happy because the Theatre of Dreams is very important for the football players and the history of football. Now I am a player of Man United and it will be a very emotional day for me.
You have lived in Barcelona for so long - how are you settling in England and Manchester?
It is cold and it always rains (laughs)! The big difference is the dark. When you are in Spain at 7pm, you are in the sun and with friends. Not now though, not here, it is not possible... At 3pm it is dark (laughs)! It is a new experience for me. I have been here for two-and-a-half months and I am used to it now. It is not so cold anymore, the rain is good and now I am a citizen of Manchester.
You were at Liverpool when Jerzy Dudek was battling Pepe Reina for the No 1 spot. What are the pros of cons of having two top class goalkeepers with Victor Valdes signing for Manchester United?
CARRA SAYS: It’s an interesting deal and normally you don’t see two top ‘keepers at one club. For outfield players’ psychology, they need to know who’s No 1, it gives them confidence. With outfield players you need competition and goalkeepers need competition as well, but you need knowledge of who is No 1. I think psychology with goalkeepers is a problem at times. We had Reina and Dudek, two top class ‘keepers and one had just won the Champions League, but we all knew Pepe was the No 1. Valdes has had a great career at Barcelona, and Louis van Gaal obviously wants a better No 2 than what he’s got in Anders Lindegaard, and he’s gone for him, but there would be no doubt that De Gea will be No 1 goalkeeper.
"Nobody is happy to be number two and Victor has to have ambition to beat David De Gea - but it shall be very hard for him," said Van Gaal.
The Dutchman also does not see an issue with having two full Spain internationals in his squad fighting for one position.
"My ambition is that I have the best players who can collaborate with each other to form the best team in the world," he said.
"When we invited Victor in to have his rehabilitation at Manchester United, we did it for him and ourselves, so I could see if his quality is also still the same. He has confirmed both."
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