Victor Valdes Joins Manchester United On A 18 Month Contract, LA Galaxy Coach Confirms Gerrard Move

Former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes, who has not played competitive football since March last year has joined Manchester United on a 18 month contract. He played for Barcelona for a little more than 11 years after graduating from the Barcelona B team, where he played for two full seasons.

Valdes, 32, tore his anterior cruciate ligament last March. That meant not only the end of his career for Barcelona but he was also unable to participate in the 2014 FIFA World Cup representing Spain. He had previously refused to sign an extension of his contract with Barcelona. His contract expired last summer and he has been without a club since then. He had won two Copa del Rey, six La Liga and three UEFA Champions League titles with the Catalan club. He has also won a UEFA European Football Championship and a FIFA World Cup with the national team. He was presently training with the Manchester United squad to regain complete fitness.

With him in the squad the future of the Manchester United goalkeepers, his compatriot, David De Gea and the reserve keeper Anders Lindegaard comes under scrutiny. It is believed that Lindegaard will leave the club at the end of the season. De Gea, the current first choice keeper, has a contract with the club till 2016. The club hierarchy has not been in any hurry to offer him a contract extension so far.

In another transfer confirmation, Bruce Arena, the LA Galaxy manager has confirmed that ex England captain and Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard is all set to join them in July with the club expected to make an official announcement later this Wednesday.

The LA Galaxy president Chris Klein has described the move as a perfect fit. "I think it's a match made in heaven," Steven Gerrard said about the move.

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