Victor Valdes Will Make Monaco Ligue 1 Title Contender Next Season

Victor Valdes is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and he has been a stabilizing force for Barcelona since becoming the full-time starter in 2003-04. He now has a chance to make AS Monaco an instant contender in Ligue 1 if he transfers to the French-league side as expected.

According to James Dickenson of The Express, Valdes is on the verge of joining Monaco despite heavy interest from Arsenal. Monaco has already secured Joao Moutinho as well as James Rodriguez and appears close to bringing in Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao.

Monaco has certainly loosened the purse strings this offseason in hopes of making noise in Ligue 1 next season, and there is little doubt that Valdes would help immensely. He has been one of the sport's most consistent goalkeepers over the past several years and has achieved several impressive accolades.

Valdes is a six-time La Liga champion, a three-time UEFA Champions League winner and a two-time Copa del Rey winner to boot. In addition to that, Valdes backstopped Spain to a World Cup victory in 2010, so he has accomplished essentially everything possible over the course of his career.

With that in mind, former Barca star Johan Cruyff is a bit perplexed by Valdes' decision to leave Camp Nou, according to Mohamed Hamdhoon of Haveeru Daily.

In one respect it is definitely odd that Valdes would want to leave Barcelona after so much success, but that isn't the only perspective worth exploring. Perhaps Valdes feels as though he has nothing left to prove and views building Monaco into a perennial power as a new and exciting challenge. Also, the hefty contract he is sure to ink has to be helpful in his decision making.

Monaco has a chance to do something special next season, just two years removed from being relegated to Ligue 2. Monaco was able to win Ligue 2 this season, so it will be promoted back to Ligue 1 for the 2012-13 season. It won't be easy to shoot to the top of the standings with Paris Saint-Germain in the fold, but Monaco has a fighting chance.

It's rare for a team in Monaco's situation to make such a big splash on the transfer market, but it's clear that The Red and Whites mean business. Signing Valdes would be a major coup for Monaco and it would give the squad a leg up on its competition from a goalkeeping perspective.

Monaco is also doing a nice job building the rest of the team, but Valdes is the type of player who can steal matches when the guys in front of him don't necessarily perform well. He did that many times for Barcelona in the past and there is little doubt that he will continue his run of excellence with Monaco.

Valdes is among the most accomplished goalkeepers in the history of soccer, but he has a chance to do something very special with Monaco. If he is able to help turn around a team that finished at the bottom of Ligue 1 just two years ago, his legacy will be cemented forever.

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