Valencia is Not My Cup of Tea, Declares United Boss

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has indicated Manchester United will not trigger the one-year extension in Antonio Valencia’s contract.

United have until 5pm today to activate the clause in Valencia’s deal to tie him to the club until 2020, otherwise he is expected to leave on a free transfer in the summer. The 33-year-old has started one Premier League game in five months and played just eight times for United all season, amid injury issues and a lack of form.

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Ashley Young is firmly established as United’s first-choice right-back and the club bought 19-year-old Diogo Dalot, whom former manager Jose Mourinho said could be United’s right-back ‘for the next 10 years’. Although Solskjaer said in December there are ‘not many better’ full-backs than Valencia, the Ecuadorian has appeared under him just once – against Newcastle on January 2.

Valencia is currently sidelined with a calf injury but he has been available for selection for most of Solskjaer’s matches.

“He’s still not 100 per cent fit,” Solskjaer said of Valencia. “He is still working to get back fit and he’s had a fantastic career here at Man United and in England, he is one of the Premier League winners left in the dressing room.

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“But, at the moment, I’m not sure if Man United and Antonio will agree on the next year, so it depends if he gets back on the pitch as well in the next few months.

“But he’s the captain, a great servant to the club, so hopefully I can get him on the pitch and show what he can do, or he can get himself 100 per cent fit and back on the pitch.”

United host Southampton after failing to score at Old Trafford in the whole of February. United fired blanks in both home matches against Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool and Solskjaer is determined to improve their home form after three winless games.

Marcus Rashford is fit enough to start after recovering from an ankle injury and could slot into a front three with Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez.

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“It’s similar to what I said,” Solskjaer added. “We need to get back to winning ways at home, we’ve not scored in the last two against PSG and Liverpool.

“Romelu, I’m sure the two goals will give him a lot of confidence. He’ll hopefully he’ll get his goal, Rom, Alexis, Marcus, whoever plays up there will score goals.”

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