Is Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal right to sell Victor Valdes?

Victor Valdes may be sold for allegedly not adhering to Van Gaal’s philosophy

Louis van Gaal says that goalkeeper Victor Valdes will be sold this summer because the Spaniard refuses to follow the Dutchman’s philosophy. In a damning assessment, Van Gaal accused the 33-year-old former Barcelona player of refusing to play in United’s under-21 side last season – supposedly a key tenet of the Dutchman’s fitness regime.

“Philosophy is how you play football and how you maintain your match rhythm,” Van Gaal said.

“There are a lot of aspects in the philosophy of how you have to play like a goalkeeper at Manchester United. When you are not willing to follow the principles of the philosophy, then there is only one way and that is out.”

Valdés initially joined United last October, training with Van Gaal’s squad in a bid to recover from the anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained against Celta Vigo in March 2014. After proving his fitness Valdés inked an 18-month contract with United in January.

“It is a big disappointment,” added Van Gaal. “It is a pity because we have given him the opportunity to rehabilitate, gave him a contract and then he is fit to play.

“If you do not play in the first team, our philosophy is to play in the second team and he did not do that.”

However, Valdés used his Instagram and Twitter feed to hit back, posting a quartet of pictures – three of under-21 fixtures in which the Spaniard featured and a photo of the stopper with his young team-mates – alongside the hashtag “#respect.”

.....? #respect pic.twitter.com/LSnwz1HfDB

— Victor Valdes (@1victorvaldes) July 16, 2015

It’s a pointed message from the Spanish international; one that suggests two sides to this story. So is Van Gaal right to sell Valdes this summer?