ANTONIO VALENCIA’S EXIT from Manchester United looks imminent, with today’s 5pm deadline for the club to trigger a one-year contract extension fast approaching.
The 33-year-old has only featured in five Premier League games for the Red Devils this season, suffering from a loss of form and a string of niggling injury issues.
The United captain is not expected to return to action until the end of March, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the 2018-19 campaign.
Solskjaer insists he still hopes that Valencia can contribute on the pitch between now and May, but it appears unlikely that his services will be retained beyond the summer.
“He’s still not 100% fit, still working to get back fit and he’s had a fantastic career here at Manchester United and England,” Solskjaer told a press conference this morning.
He is one of the Premier League winners left in the dressing room but I’m not sure if Manchester United and Antonio will agree on the next year so it depends if he gets back on the pitch in the next few months but he’s the captain, great servant to the club so hopefully I can get him on the pitch and show what he can do.”
Valencia joined United from Wigan back in 2009 and has since managed to win two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and the Europa League. The Ecuadorian star has racked up 338 appearances for the club and scored 25 goals, but since the start of the season he has found playing time hard to come by at Old Trafford.
Former United boss Jose Mourinho named Valencia as club captain last summer and he was expected to play a huge role for the team this year.
However, Ashley Young and Diogo Dalot quickly overtook him in the pecking order at right-back, before Mourinho was dismissed as first team boss in December.
Solskjaer, who was appointed in his stead on a caretaker basis, allowed Valencia to keep the captains armband, but he has only featured once for the club in 2019.
Bernard Jackman joins Murray Kinsella and Gavan Casey to discuss the backlash to World Rugby’s league proposal, captaincy styles, sports psychology and more in The42 Rugby Weekly.
The42 Rugby Weekly / SoundCloud
Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here:
Lets do this Russia!
Sacrificing a normal shape to crowbar Rooney into the team.
He doesn’t like playing form players, Sterling there to get Rooney in the team.
Dier, Ali and Rose wouldn’t have been in the team one year ago so he clearly does pick players based on form.
England hopefully get smashed twice in one day!! A
Crazy not to start Vardy against Ignashevich and Berezutski.theyd shite themselves against him
Rooney’s goals got them there , what had Lallana, Sterling , Henderson Wilshere done to get a place in the squad never mind the team
Kane,Vardy , Ali weren’t even there for the first year of the campaign so in fairness Rooney does deserve his spot
In that position though?? A little unfair on those who have excelled there, Rooney has not….
England are notoriously slow starters so I’m going to go for Russia 2 England 1.
They’re usually quick finishers tho
Who in that midfield tonight has excelled there ??
Mark, they probably set him up for all his goals, did you think Rooney went hardcore Messi/Ronaldo and did it himself? I am not saying Rooney does not deserve to be there, just do not understand the selection, does feel like he was shoehorned into a position…. Fair to him and England??
Also, Lallane improved a lot under Klopp, and has played well for England, Hendo, Sterling, not so much……
Does Lallana go if he’s still at Southampton? No! Cause he’s and average player that Rodgers bought and going because he now plays for Liverpool now , same with Henderson , Roys old club !
Lallana was there at last world cup as a saint….. Your argument is rubbish….. Again, I am not against Rooney being there, just not in that position…. Your turning this into Man U v Liverpool….. Like that miserable Hoof….
I also did say Hendo or Milner do not deserve to be there…… You guys cannot handle anything that maybe even .001% negative against Man U…. Grow up….
How is it Rubbish ! Hes had 20 International game and hasn’t scored once yet
And i think it was you that started making comparisons between Utd and liverpool .
Where did I start that? I said maybe Drinkwater deserves to be on the field, and Rooney was put in an position that he normally does not play in, suggesting he is selected based on reputation. Never said Rooney does not deserve to be there, just not in that position….. You and Hoof started rolling out the names of players on other teams….. Again, Man U defence forces….. Cannot handle it…..
You were clearly disappointed that you couldn’t comment on the de Gea story why was that ?
That was more an observation with Cosmo on how the Journo handles stories and what it allows…..that was also on a different article, nothing to do with this…. For the record, would be happy if Rooney proved me wrong, I have zero interest in seeing Russia win, I find them an extremely racist nation….. I do not think Roy picked his best squad….
Look Sahko failed a drugs test its news, de gea name has been mentioned in a spanish newspaper and in relation to an on going court case . Therefore you can not have an open comment section, because its heresay and there could be legal repercussions. You also hinted at him being guilty as you found it strange why Madrid had apparently cooled their interest all of a sudden. So any reaction you got was probably deserved .
But I slso think Roy has not picked his best team
Think Rooney lallana and walker have been excellent. Kane has been really poor
Did Sakho fail a drug test, or did UEFA cock up? I suppose being a fan of your club, Sakho was also a major drug addict, fair enough, your a Man U fan…. For me, I find it funny Real apparently give up on The goalie this week of all weeks…..but you all had your say when Sakho was tried and executed, even though in the end he did nothing wrong… UEFA are investigating there own procedures now, and said no further action will be brought against Sakho….. Because you know, he did nothing wrong….. Back to the game, Kane has been invisible…. Sturridge or Vardy?? I would also take of Sterling, he has no end product, and Walker has done well getting the ball in the box….. Russia look like they feel they can nick a goal now too….
Mark, the fact that its also an ongoing court case, not good….. Of all Man Utd players, I like De Gea, he never gives up the fight, even when the ball has passed him, he still tries everything in his power….
You lads watching the game or just typing rubbish the whole way through.
Fitting Rooney in for the sake of it….. Rubbish….. Drinkwater should be ahead of him…. Name ahead of merit……
I agree, I would have played Alli behind Kane and Vardy with 3 holding midfielders Dier, Wilshire and a drinkwater. Rooney should not be undropable and apart from the back for misplaced loyalty to Rooney could be Hodgesons downfall.
Also, keep him away from corners…. They never recovered control of that media satellite…..
Roy’s right.
Vardy will get found out at this level.
Lumping the ball into space for the centre forward to run on to might be OK at Leicester but at international level it’ss primitive football.
Wayne Rooney is the fulcrum of the English team, the Captain.
Raheem Sterling should not even be in the squad.
“Might be ok at Leicester” Cal? Leicester are the PL champions or have you forgotten already?
Sloop, you bit…..
Well, after watching the game if you feel like arguing about my prediction on Sterling I’d be quite happy to accommodate you.
Absolutely clueless.
And Rooney was the best player on the pitch by a wide margin.
Rooney played good, Lallana and Kyle Walker also had good games…… Nobody was great…..
Clueless? A bit like yourself then Cal?
Vardy should start hope they get beat good birthday present for the queen
до России
Sterling ha ha ha. Hodgson you funny bollo.
Ha happy birthday cmon the Russians
Same old story for England. Concede last minute equalizer. Another night of rioting in Marseilles to come.
Yeah…. Bad recipe, all drunk singing about the queen…… Now angry…… Against superior race Russian fans….. Explosive……
What about sturridge..no stur..no goal
Rooney shouldn’t be in that team. Vardy and Kane up front, pick players on form. I actually wouldn’t mind seeing England do well though, although those fans……….