Valdes and Van Gaal settle differences with Twitter discussion
Victor Valdes and Louis van Gaal are friends again after a constructive discussion on Twitter, Back of the Net can reveal...
Goalkeeper Valdes appeared to have fallen out with the Man United hierarchy after refusing to play for the under 21s, citing the fact that he is 33.
Manager Van Gaal looked set to swing the axe, with dark rumours that Valdes was "begging to be Kuszczaked", until the goalkeeper publicly defended himself with reasoned Tweet-length rebuttals, which appear to have changed Van Gaal's mind.
"While I would have preferred to have featured more often for the grown-up team, I would like to reaffirm my commitment to the U21s," wrote Valdes, via his @onevictorvaldes account.
"Even though I am an adult, who was won the Zamora Trophy five times #record, I will play alongside these strange-haired children if required".
He added: "#respect #ManUnited #iam33yearsold".
While I would have preferred to have featured more often for the grown-up team, I would like to reaffirm my commitment to the U21s.
— Victor Valdes (@onevictorvaldes) July 17, 2015
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Even though I am an adult who was won the Zamora Trophy five times #record, I will play alongside these strange-haired children if required.
— Victor Valdes (@onevictorvaldes) July 17, 2015
#respect#ManUnited#iam33yearsold
— Victor Valdes (@onevictorvaldes) July 17, 2015
Responding though his own Twitter account, @BallsyIronTulip, Van Gaal wrote: "The dispute between me and @onevictorvaldes was nothing more than a misunderstanding caused by his youthful good looks.
"If he wishes to be taken seriously as our number one goalkeeper then he should knuckle down, play for the U21s and consider growing a beard.”
"#BFFs4eva #rememberKuszczak #irontulip #bigballs".
The dispute between me and @onevictorvaldes was nothing more than a misunderstanding caused by his youthful good looks.
— Big Balls Iron Tulip (@ballsyirontulip) July 17, 2015
If he wishes to be taken seriously as our number one goalkeeper then he should knuckle down, play for the U21s and consider growing a beard.
— Big Balls Iron Tulip (@ballsyirontulip) July 17, 2015
#BFFs4eva#rememberKuszczak#irontulip#bigballs
— Big Balls Iron Tulip (@ballsyirontulip) July 17, 2015
Technology expert Will Cohen said: "The rise of social media means that arguments that would once have festered away in the background are now resolved swiftly in public to the satisfaction of all parties.
"By taking to Twitter to explain his position to his boss, Valdes has demonstrated exactly the sort of level-headed professionalism that will bring him and the club closer together."
At going to press, Van Gaal had subtweeted Valdes' last message to the official account of Antalyaspor FC, adding the message "how about 2 million?"