Louis van Gaal: Manchester United to sell Victor Valdes after he ‘refused to play’

ByBen Snowball

Updated 16/07/2015 at 08:19 GMT

Manchester United will sell goalkeeper Victor Valdes after the Spaniard refused to play in the reserves, manager Louis van Gaal said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a news conference in Seattle during United's pre-season tour of the United States, Van Gaal made clear 33-year-old Valdes was on his way out after only six months at the Premier League club.

"He doesn't follow our philosophy. There is no place for someone like that," said the Dutchman. "The philosophy is how you play football, and how you maintain your match rhythm.

"For example, he refused last (season) to play in the second team. That's also one aspect of our philosophy but there are a lot of other aspects in the philosophy of how you have to play like a goalkeeper in Manchester United.

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"When you are not willing to follow the principles of the philosophy, then there is only one way and that is out," continued van Gaal.

Manchester United's manager Louis van Gaal (L) laughs as he and Bastian Schweinsteiger speak to the media

Image credit: Reuters

Asked directly if he was selling the player, the manager replied: "Yes. For us it is a big disappointment because we thought he would follow our philosophy.

"When you are not playing in the first selection, then you must play in the second selection. Every player has to do that and he refused to do that."

Van Gaal had said in February, a month after Valdes joined United on an 18-month contract from Barcelona, that the Spaniard must earn his spurs with the reserves before he could be considered for a full first-team debut.

Valdes, who was a surprise omission from United's squad for the tour, failed to displace incumbent David de Gea, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid and whose contract expires at the end of next season.

OUR VIEW

It’s a pretty basic requirement: play in the reserves, keep your eye in.

Valdes must have been aware of this routine protocol. Even if this ‘refusal’ is an exaggeration, Louis van Gaal’s outburst leaves the stopper in an untenable position.

It once appeared he would replace David De Gea between the posts at Old Trafford. That chance is now gone.

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