Victor Valdes has not rejected an offer to train with Liverpool, as there has been no such approach from the Premier League club.
It has been widely reported that Brendan Rodgers is lining up an offer for the 32-year-old goalkeeper, who is a free agent after leaving Barcelona in the summer. It is thought that the Reds are keen to secure the services of a top-class number one, due to the recent poor form of Belgian international ace Simon Mignolet.
Valdes, of course, would come with one of the best CV’s in the game. During his long association at the Cam Nou, where he progressed through the youth system, he helped the Catalan giants win six La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey’s, and three UEFA Champions League trophies, amongst 10 other honours.
The Spain international is recuperating from a cruciate knee injury which he suffered in March, and it has been reported that Rodgers had asked him to travel to Merseyside to train only to receive a rejection from the player. However, agent Gines Carvajal told Sport: “Liverpool didn’t ask us to train for four days. We haven’t rejected it because it is false. Neither Brendan Rodgers nor Liverpool have ever made us this proposal.”
Despite finishing second in the Premier League table last season, Liverpool conceded 50 goals, compared to champions Manchester City, who conceded 37, and Chelsea who boasted the meanest rearguard with just 27 shipped. This term the Reds have kept just one clean sheet in seven, and the spotlight has been directed at Mignolet. However, the former Sunderland shot-stopper insists he can handle the pressure of being at Anfield.
“Pressure is what is happening in Iraq at the moment when there is a war. That is pressure,” said Mignolet. “We are all football players and we are here to do our best. You want to work hard in training and we will see what happens at a weekend. I can only do my best, work hard, be positive and confident and I believe in myself. That is the only thing I can do.
“If I have to look into all the people and players who are linked with Liverpool football club then there will be another team on the pitch. Every week there would be a different 11 playing. So it is just the fact that you play for a big club and you have to accept that is the way it is, but I don’t read anything into that. I am here to play my game and to do my best every week.”
Even if Liverpool haven’t approached Valdes, is it just a matter of time? Let us know what you think by joining in the discussion below.
