Victor Valdés’s announcement last week that he was not going to extend his stay with his club when his deal runs out next season caught many by surprise. The reaction to the news was mixed with some indicating that Valdés is free to go explore other leagues. Others however were upset that he made this announcement that could be deemed as ingratitude or even treacherous and a distraction that the team does not need.
After many years of great service for the club, Valdés has decided to venture elsewhere at the conclusion of the 2013-2014 season. I am not surprised by his decision. If Pep wanted to play elsewhere, then why can’t Valdés. There is no rule that says every player must retire with the club. Even the great Kubala ended up playing for Espanyol with Di Stefano after a decade’s worth of service. Ultimately, Valdés is entitled to expand his horizon and experience a different league.
However, there are concerns that cannot be ignored. The timing of his announcement was a bit puzzling to say the least. He could have said this near the end of the season and avoid creating a distraction for the manager and players for the reason of this season. Instead, everyone will have to answer questions about this topic which is what the club did not need as they continue their quest for a treble. I wasn’t too thrilled in the manner the announcement was made either when this decision was announced by his agent on the radio instead of having Valdés personally address which he has yet to do.
Nevertheless, the bigger concern for the club is finding someone to replace Valdés. Sure, many will point that Valdés has had his share of blunders over the years and that the style of play is a big reason in how he won all those Zamora trophies. Now it is true that Barça’s style doesn’t allow Valdés to face many shots in a game. However, he is a vital piece of the team in terms of understanding the style of Barça and when he is on top of his game, this team becomes near unbeatable.
However, we now have to see if he will stay till the end of next season, and who will come in to replace him and also Pinto but that’s a discussion best saved for another day. Barça went through an ordeal to find Zubizaretta’s replacement. It took close to a decade before the club finally settled on a goalkeeper when Frank Rijkaard picked Valdés to be the starter over Rustu. I certainly hope we don't go through the trial and errors of Baia, Hesp, Enke, Dutruel, Bonano, Reina, and Rustu again. If Valdés decides to stay, then great news but if he plans to seek an adventure to another league, then the club have their work cut out for them.
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The goalkeeper position is one of the toughest one at FC Barcelona. We have seen good keepers like Baia struggle with the pressure of playing at this club and Pepe Reina had his problems before going on to play for Villarreal and Liverpool. It’s not just about saves, but it’s also being able to play the ball with your feet and keeping the ball movement fluid. It’s not an easy task and hopefully the club can find someone who is comfortable playing for a club as big as Barça and can get used to the style and players of this club. The good news is that they have plenty of time to scout for the right choice. The problem is will the club be able to find a goalkeeper, or two if Pinto is not coming back, and spare us from the suffering of going through keepers on a yearly basis like we witnessed before? Thus, Zubizarreta will have his hands full in finding the man who will replace his successor as the next long term Barça goalkeeper.
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