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David de Gea on competing with Victor Valdes: 'They didn't sign him for that'

Carl Recine / Reuters

Despite suggestions that Victor Valdes is at Manchester United to compete for the starting spot between the posts, David de Gea isn't worried.

Valdes, who suffered a torn ACL in his right knee back in March, is training at Old Trafford as a free agent following an offer from manager Louis van Gaal. Although he's still recovering from the injury, United have the option of bringing Valdes on as the 25th and final player on their Premier League squad.

"Yes, my contract runs out in 2016," De Gea told Spanish newspaper AS, according to the Guardian. "But they didn't sign him for that. Victor had a difficult injury, he had a bad time and the boss knows him well and has given him the opportunity to recover there.

"Victor is training over in Manchester, he's still not 100 percent after after his injury. When he is fully fit he will start to train with us. He's still not training in goal with us. From time to time he comes out with the goalkeeping coach but very little still.

"Van Gaal knows him well because he gave Victor his debut at Barca and has a special affection for him and whenever possible we have to help where we can. Football is cruel at times, it's difficult. When things go well you're very good and when they go badly, well, it's awful."

Adding to the speculation has been the fact that De Gea is nursing a dislocated finger, an injury suffered while on international duty with Spain's national team. He's expected to miss United's clash against Arsenal on Saturday, although there remains a small chance of him featuring.

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