The curious case of Victor Valdes

The goalkeeper was one of the cornerstones of one of the most dominant teams in recent history at Barcelona, but such is the fickleness of football that many fans have already started to forget about him.

After joining Middlesbrough to much fanfare last season, he failed to win over a sceptical Teesside fanbase and dropped out of the team towards the end of the season amid unconvincing reports of an injury and much more convincing rumours of a dressing room bust-up.

The 35-year-old was released at the end of the season, with rumoured interest from the likes on Manchester City and several teams in his homeland. That interest proved to be at worst, wholly untrue and at best, hugely exaggerated and as the new season gets underway across Europe, Valdes is sat somewhere twiddling his thumbs.

Valdes left Barca to join Monaco, becoming on of the French side's first Real stars in recent years, though lady luck did not smile on the veteran. A serious injury cut short his time in France, with the player moving to Manchester United in search of a second chance.

United's move for Valdes appeared to be something of a panic signing amid reported interest from Real Madrid in David De Gea and when the latter did not leave, Valdes was very much Louis Van Gaal's second choice goalkeeper.

After another frustrating spell with very little football, Valdes joined Belgian side Standar Liege on loan before teaming up with Aitor Karanka on a free transfer last summer.

After a mixed campaign that saw the Catalan make a sensational save one minute and a catastrophic error the next, Valdes is on the look out for a new club once again. But as with most footballers there will always be the question of how his career could have ended if he had made a couple of decisions differently and had a bit more luck.