Victor Valdés joins Manchester United on 18-month deal
Manchester United have signed Victor Valdés, the former Barcelona goalkeeper, on an 18-month contract.
The 32-year-old has been undergoing his rehabilitation from an anterior cruciate ligament injury at Old Trafford since October after leaving Barcelona last summer.
United have now moved to secure the Spanish free agent to a deal that will tie him to the club until June 2016.
United manager Louis van Gaal has said little about his plans for Valdes but has been impressed enough in recent weeks to offer him a deal.
Valdes’ arrival will give De Gea proper competition at Old Trafford for the first time. Current No 2 Anders Lindegaard is not considered good enough by Van Gaal.
The signing of Valdes will inevitably lead to more talk about De Gea’s future.
United have not been able to get the young Spaniard’s name on a new contract and Real Madrid are keen to have the 24-year-old as a long-term replacement for Iker Casillas.
Valdes is currently living in the Lowry Hotel in the city centre but is believed to be looking for property in the same area as his compatriots De Gea, Juan Mata and Ander Herrera.
Valdes will also bring his family to live with him in Manchester.
United are looking to let Lindegaard return to Scandinavia while they will not stand in the way of fellow keeper Ben Amos should a club come in for him.
