Valdes rejects Barcelona contract extension

Valdes tells Barcelona he will not renew his contract

18-Jan-2013 2:00:00 AM

The Blaugrana goalkeeper has told the club he plans to leave at the end of his current deal, after recently expressing his desire to experience "other cultures"

Victor Valdes has informed Barcelo na he will not renew his contract when it expires in 2014, according to the player's representatives.

Camp Nou chiefs held talks with agents of the Spain international on Thursday and the Catalan club had hoped to persuade the goalkeeper to extend his lifelong association with the club.

However, it now appears certain the 31-year-old will leave at the end of next season following the release of a statement on Thursday evening.

"Victor Valdes' agents have told Barcelona, in the meeting held this afternoon, of the irrevocable decision from the player not to renew his contract, thus avoiding discussing future wage issues," his representatives told Spanish news agency EFE.

Valdes' contract expires on June 30, 2014, and he could well make a move away from La Liga after recently expressing his desire to experience "other cultures".

However, he had also revealed at the start of January his intention to retire at Barca, an opinion that has clearly changed since.

The current Liga leaders' sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta had thought that Valdes had every intention of remaining at Camp Nou.

Reports in the winter transfer window have linked Manchester United shot-stopper David de Gea with a move back to the Primera Division, having left Atletico Madrid in 2011.

The Blaugrana are yet to comment on the Valdes news, with a pre-match press conference due to be held on Friday ahead of their clash with Real Sociedad on Saturday.