Victor Valdes Reportedly Given Humiliating Man United Schedule by Louis Van Gaal

Victor Valdes’ fallout with Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has resulted in a humiliating schedule being drawn up for the goalkeeper, with the former Barcelona man reportedly being forced to train on his own.

According to Colin Young of the Daily Mirror, Valdes has been given a strict regimen that will ensure he stays apart from other senior players. Young outlined the extent to which Van Gaal has reportedly gone to keep Valdes away from the first-team squad:

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Former Spain and Barcelona keeper Valdes has been ordered to turn up at the club’s Carrington HQ only when Van Gaal’s first team are NOT there.

It often means the 33-year-old must train by himself in the afternoons if the first team have morning sessions, and vice versa if the bulk of the squad are doing their work after lunch.

The move is another example of Van Gaal’s uncompromising man-management style, which has not won many friends at Old Trafford.

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As noted by Young, Valdes fell out with Van Gaal after the goalkeeper allegedly refused to play for the team’s reserves. The former Barcelona man seemed destined to leave the club this summer as a result, but a move to Besiktas fell through late in the window, meaning Valdes now finds himself in limbo at Old Trafford.

Bleacher Report’s Manchester United correspondent Paul Ansorge admitted it would be great to see Van Gaal and Valdes patch things up:

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Absolutely love the idea of valdes making up with van gaal. Would be so beautiful.

— Paul (@UtdRantcast) August 31, 2015"

But it’s looking hugely unlikely now. Recently, Valdes has been linked with Chelsea and Liverpool, per Peter O’Rourke of ESPN.com, and if this is indeed his regimen, the three-time European Cup winner will likely be desperate to get out of United as soon as possible. Here’s a look at why he forged a reputation as one of the world’s best goalkeepers during his time at Barcelona:

At one point during the summer, United seemed as though they were going to be short of options between the sticks, but the transfer of David De Gea to Real Madrid fell through late in the window. Since then, De Gea has been integrated back into the team and been superb, while Sergio Romero has been his deputy.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

As the United No. 1 noted on Twitter, they’ve been in tremendous form since he came back into the XI:

It leaves Valdes further down the pecking order at United, and it seems unlikely that he’ll ever play for the club again. While it’s tough to know what has gone on behind closed doors, this marginalisation does seem extreme, especially for a player who has achieved so much in the game and who had a marvellous reputation before joining United.

The manner in which Valdes has reportedly been cut adrift is an emphatic indicator of Van Gaal’s ruthless management style and will be a message to the other players not to step out of line. Still, after a difficult couple of seasons, it’s imperative that the former Barcelona man finds himself a club midseason, starts playing again and puts this tumultuous Old Trafford spell behind him.