Victor Valdes has said farewell to Barcelona in
an emotional letter on the club's official
website, thanking former coaches Louis van
Gaal, Frank Rijkaard, Pep Guardiola and Tito
Vilanova for their support over the years.
The shot stopper will leave the Camp Nou side
at the end of the season, but will not get the
chance to wave his fans farewell on the pitch
due to a knee injury that has kept him out of
action ever since March.
"The time has come for me to say goodbye to
you all. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to say
goodbye playing football, as I would have
liked, but that's life at times, and this year has
been a bit cruel to me in this regard," the
letter reads.
"Thank you to Louis Van Gaal, for showing the
courage necessary to gamble on a talent that
only he could see. He began building this
historic Barca side, which I have been
privileged to be part of. My heartfelt thanks
"Thank you Frank Rijkaard, for giving me the
confidence necessary, and allowing me to
achieve glory, getting my hands on the
European Cup in Paris. Wherever you are, I will
be indebted to you for the rest of my life
Mister.
"Thank you Pep, for having opened the door to
playing a game that was unknown to me, for
guiding me along the road where one has to
keep looking for success, and we did it
together, right? We'll always have that Mister,
and believe me, it will be eternal!.
"Thank you Tito! Wherever you are, I thank you
for having taught us not only the way to keep
winning as a team, but also the strength and
character needed to face life.
"Thanks to all my colleagues with whom I've
had the pleasure to work, that involves
wearing the Barca crest on our chests day
after day, for making me feel important within
the group that we developed over all these
years.
"And of course I cannot forget the most
important people, over these 12 years as a
professional, wearing this shirt, my most loyal
fans."
Valdes has made over 500 official appearances
for Barcelona since making his official debut in
2002-03.
