The Evening Standard's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Victor Valdes has hit back at Louis van Gaal’s accusations that he has refused to play for the Manchester United U21s.
The goalkeeper tweeted a selection of images this morning from youth team matches he had played in alongside a picture of him with some of the club’s young prospects, including Anderson and Jesse Lingard, marking it with a question mark and the hashtag respect.
Valdes was left out of Manchester United’s pre-season tour of the United States, despite his position as back-up to David de Gea, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid. Van Gaal yesterday explained that this was down to Valdes’ not following the club’s “philosophy” and confirmed that he was available for transfer.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="und">.....? <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/respect?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-4026-https://twitter.com/hashtag/respect?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#respect</a> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=9&id=222025&p=http://t.co/LSnwz1HfDB" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-4026-http://t.co/LSnwz1HfDB" data-vars-event-id="c23">pic.twitter.com/LSnwz1HfDB</a>— Victor Valdes (@1victorvaldes) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/1victorvaldes/status/621597700199464961" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-4026-https://twitter.com/1victorvaldes/status/621597700199464961" data-vars-event-id="c23">July 16, 2015</a>
Van Gaal said yesterday: "He is not selected because he does not follow our philosophy.
"When that is the case, there is not a place for a player.
"Last season, he refused to play in the second team and there are other aspects you need as a keeper at United.
"When you are not willing to follow those principles, there is only one way and that is out."
The 33-year-old has had a long relationship with his United manager, stretching back to the time when van Gaal gave him his debut at Barcelona in 2002. The coach then offered the out-of-contract keeper a chance to resurrect his career in January after a serious knee injury.
However with van Gaal having put him up for sale and Valdes’ implying a lack of respect from the United hierarchy it seems that the goalkeeper will leave after just six months and two games.
MORE ABOUT