Former Barcelona and Manchester United keeper Victor Valdes completes Middlesbrough move

Víctor Valdés
Víctor Valdés

Middlesbrough have confirmed they have completed the signing of former Barcelona and Manchester United goalkeeper Victor Valdes on July 7, Thursday. The World Cup winner signed a two-year deal with the Premier League newcomers.

“Middlesbrough have completed the signing of World Cup winning goalkeeper Victor Valdes,” a statement read on Middlesbrough’s official website.

“Boro beat off stiff competition to the land the Barcelona legend after an 18-month spell with Manchester United came to an end earlier this summer,” it added.

The 34-year-old left the Catalan club as a free agent in the summer of 2014 and months before he left Camp Nou, he suffered a long-term injury, which made it difficult to find a club immediately after his contract expired at Barcelona.

After spending six months without a club, he signed a 18-month contract with the Red Devils in January 2015. He made two appearances for United at the end of the 2014-15 season and was not a part of the first team after his fallout with Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford.

United released him after his contract expired earlier this summer and the Spanish stopper was keen on continuing in England’s top flight club competition. Middlesbrough were one of the three clubs to achieve promotion to the Premier League this season and he is

Middlesbrough coach Aitor Karanka has expressed his delight after his side’s latest capture and admitted that it is not every day that a player of Valdes’ calibre signs for the Premier League new boys.

“You can’t imagine how delighted I am because it’s not usual to bring players like him to recently promoted teams,” Karanka explained.

“I’m really pleased because he is really committed. All the the conversations we’ve had he knows why he is here and he is coming to add to what we have.

“He knows how strong this group is. It’s a privilege for us to be able to bring a player like this to the club.”

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