United to sell Valdes

Victor Valdes will leave Manchester United this summer, as Louis Van Gaal confirmed the goalkeeper will be sold after refusing to play with the reserves.

The Spaniard, who joined United as a free agent last year, has another 18 months on his contract and was widely tipped to be David De Gea’s replacement, should the current United complete his move to Real Madrid.

However, he was left out of the squad for the US tour and Van Gaal explained the Spaniard’s short spell at Old Trafford has come to an end.

“He is not selected because he does not follow my philosophy,” he said.

“There is not one place for one player – the philosophy is how you play football and how you maintain your match rhythm. For example, he refused last year to play in our second team.

“That is one aspect of our philosophy but there are a lot of others for how you play like a goalkeeper for Manchester United,” said the Dutchman.

“When you are not willing to follow the principles of the philosophy there is only one way and that is out.”

Van Gaal admitted he was left disappointed by Valdes’ behaviour, particularly given United had given the Spaniard the chance to recover from a serious knee injury.

“For us it is a big disappointment,” said the United manager

“We thought he will follow our philosophy but it is a pity because we have given him an opportunity to rehabilitate and then we gave him a contract.

“Then when he is fit to play and when you are not playing in the first selection [team] you have to play in the second. He refused that.”