Transfer Centre

David de Gea: 'Victor Valdes not at Manchester United to replace me'

By Liam Apicella, Features Editor | 18 November 2014

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea says that he does not face competition for his place from free agent Victor Valdes, who has been training with the club.

David de Gea has dismissed speculation that Victor Valdes has been granted permission to train with Manchester United with a view to replacing him as the club's number one goalkeeper.

Following his release by Barcelona at the end of last season, Valdes was invited to continue his recovery from a knee injury at United's training base in Carrington by manager Louis van Gaal.

His arrival had resulted in reports that De Gea, who is thought to be a target of Real Madrid, could make way for his fellow Spaniard.

However, despite the fact that his contract at Old Trafford is due to expire in 2016, 24-year-old De Gea has insisted that there is no competition for his place from Valdes.

"Yes, my contract runs out in 2016. But they didn't sign him for that. Victor had a difficult injury, he had a bad time and the boss knows him well and has given him the opportunity to recover there," he told AS.

"Yes, Victor is training over in Manchester, he's still not 100% after his injury. When he is fully fit he will start to train with us. He's still not training in goal with us. From time to time he comes out with the goalkeeping coach but very little still."

De Gea joined United from Atletico Madrid back in the summer of 2011.