Louis van Gaal says Manchester United may sign Víctor Valdés

The 32-year-old, a free agent after leaving Barcelona this summer, will join in with first-team training when he is ready, Kazinform quotes the Guardian. Van Gaal, asked whether he would consider signing Valdés if the Spaniard returns to full fitness, gave a cryptic hint that it may be a possibility. "Manchester United always have their eyes open," he said.

Van Gaal handed Valdés his Barcelona debut in 2002. The Spanish goalkeeper became Van Gaal's first choice and remained so until the Dutchman left the Camp Nou the following year. The 63-year-old, whose goalkeeping coach Frans Hoek also worked with Valdés at Barcelona, said of his invitation to the three-times Champions League winner to train at United: "I have done it already with a lot of players. I have a relationship with a lot of players. I gave Ronald de Boer or Edgar Davids rehabilitation possibility or training possibility when they needed that, so he is one of these players. "Robin van Persie also when he played for me in the Dutch squad last year, I allowed him to come to our medical department to get him fit for the World Championship [World Cup]. "I have always done that, and not only with big players but ones you've never heard of." Valdés's compatriot David de Gea has enjoyed an outstanding couple of seasons as United's No1 but faces little competition. Anders Lindegaard looked set to leave Old Trafford in the summer but he stayed to compete with Sam Johnstone and Ben Amos to be De Gea's backup.