adminLONDON. – Manchester United goalkeeper Victor Valdes escalated his dispute with manager Louis Van Gaal yesterday by posting pictures of himself with the club’s Under-21 team, which Van Gaal had accused him of refusing to play for.
Former Spanish international Valdes was left out of United’s tour to the United States and told to leave the club because “last season he refused to play in the second team”, the manager told reporters in Seattle.
But Valdes, who signed an 18-month contract with United in January, responded with a post on Twitter including mention of three Under-21 games and a picture of himself in the dressing-room with the message “. . .? #respect”
It is not the first time the pair have clashed.
When they worked together at Barcelona in 2002, Valdes declined to play in a reserve game after being dropped and was fined.
Now his future is in doubt, just as United face renewed interest from Real Madrid in signing their number one goalkeeper David de Gea.
Van Gaal on Wednesday warned his raft of new signings they would have to fight for their Manchester United places as the Premier League giants prepared to kick-off their pre-season tour of the United States.
United arrived in Seattle in buoyant mood after bolstering their squad with a slew of high-calibre new arrivals led by Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and France international Morgan Schneiderlin.
With highly rated Dutch international Memphis Depay and Italy defender Matteo Darmian also joining in the close season, van Gaal is confident he can build a team to re-establish United as title challengers.
But the veteran Dutchman warned that all of the new signings would need to prove they deserved a place in United’s starting line-up.
“I have to say to the players, you have to fight for your position,” Van Gaal said.
“Never is it secure in top sport – even my position is not secure.
“Matteo Darmian has to fight with (Antonio) Valencia, he knows that but Valencia knows that also.” – AFP.
Online Reporter