Valdes on retirement: I m no longer the superstar, but I ve reached that level

For many, there is little debate as to who is the greatest goalkeeper in FC Barcelona history. They all agree that Valdes is the clear first choice, ahead of other legendary goalkeepers like Ramalec, Zubizarreta or Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Before officially bidding farewell to the court in 2015, Valdez was interviewed by Colombian reporter Marlon Becerra of RCN TV. In the interview, he opened up and admitted that his life was nearing the end of a stage, a professional football career full of glory and privilege.

Valdez said: "We live an unreal life, a life of being carried away by others. Everything is at our fingertips and everything becomes easy. People praise you and make you feel comfortable everywhere."

The knee injury that kept him away from the game for a long time also allowed him to finally stop and withdraw from the high-intensity professional rhythm, allowing him to re-see the real world outside of football. He knew that those glorious times were over.

Valdes reflected at the time: "I will never be a superstar again, but I have reached that height."

However, Valdes did not resist this slower pace and return to ordinary life.

Valdes said: "That injury brought me back to real life, back to where we originally started. I still remember my time in Augsburg, the three-month recovery period. I remember buying tram tickets, using crutches, wearing headphones, and going out alone. That sense of reality cannot be taken away by anyone."

The way Valdes left Barcelona was quite cold. He left the team after rupturing the cruciate ligament in his right knee and subsequently joined Manchester United. He was without a team for several months between the end of his contract and signing for Manchester United. Afterwards, he was loaned to Standard Liege and then transferred to Middlesbrough on a free transfer before finally retiring in 2017.

Valdez's career as a coach is far less glorious than his glory in front of the Nou Camp. Whether he was coaching the Morataras youth team, Barcelona Youth A team, UA Horta Club or Real Avila, he failed to truly gain a foothold. In Avila, his coaching lasted only 26 days.

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