Valdes shows De Gea the way in contract countdown

David De Gea only has 18 months left on his Old Trafford contract

David de Gea appears to be doing exactly what new team-mate Victor Valdes did at Barcelona by letting his contract run down, will he stick around at Old Trafford?

Manchester United's signing of Victor Valdes has led to further conjecture about the future of David de Gea with the Old Trafford club.

The former Barcelona goalkeeper, still only 32, has won six La Liga titles, three Champions Leagues and two World Club Cups - hardly the CV of your average back-up.

But manager Louis van Gaal's statement on Thursday confirmed that Valdes has come in as United's number two goalkeeper to be ready when De Gea is unfit or in need of a break.

The younger of the two Spaniards has kept goal in every single league and cup match for United this season so may be due for a rest when the Red Devils travel to Cambridge United in the FA Cup later in January.

However, with the 24-year-old's contract due to expire in just 18 months time, conflicting reports are emerging over whether De Gea will re-commit his future to United or continue to let his contract run down - leading to his eventual departure.

One thing is for sure - United have bought themselves some time with the canny acquisition of Valdes in a move that will make many of their domestic rivals jealous.

In an era when mega-rich Manchester City and Chelsea have to consult their accountants over whether they can make another big splash without incurring any Financial Fair Play penalties, United have brought in a proven star for nothing.

Van Gaal utilised his, and his goalkeeping coach Frans Hoek's, previous relationship with Valdes from their time together at the Nou Camp to facilitate the deal.

The La Masia academy graduate was handed his Barcelona debut by Van Gaal in August 2002, keeping a clean sheet in a 3-0 home Champions League qualifier against Legia Warsaw.

He went on to make over 500 appearances for the Catalans during the most successful period in the history of the club but left abruptly last summer - one year after confirming that he would not be signing a new deal.

At the time, in May 2013, there was significant interest from big-spending Monaco - who had just signed Radamel Falcao for 60 million euros.

Valdes cited the pressure of playing for the club as his main reason for leaving Barcelona and felt that he had given them "sufficient time" to find a replacement as he sought "different sources of motivation".

Some fans cruelly suggested that a lucrative contract in a notorious tax haven was Valdes' primary source of motivation but the Monte Carlo dream went bust when he sustained an ACL injury to his knee in a league match against Celta Vigo in March.

Monaco owner Dmitry Rybolovlev's austerity measures this summer saw Falcao and James Rodriguez sold and budgets dramatically cut at the club, leaving Valdes without a club for six months while he rehabilitated from surgery.

If anything, his tale should be a warning to De Gea over the dangers of letting the clock tick where contracts are concerned, but Valdes has now happily landed at a club where he knows the coaching staff and has the platform to perform at the highest level.

De Gea, still only 24, has the world at his feet in footballing terms and has already won over any lingering doubters about his ability from when he first arrived as a scrawny 20-year-old from Madrid.

If he does want to test the water as a free agent or force United's hand to agree a sale there seems to be only one potential buyer in Real Madrid with Barcelona banned from signings until 2016.