Solskjaer opens door for Valencia’s exit

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has paved the way for Manchester United captain Antonio Valencia to leave the club after a decade at Old Trafford.

Valencia is United’s longest-serving player but made the last of his eight appearances this season on January 2.

The club need to trigger the one-year extension on Valencia’s contract by 5pm on Friday or the 33-year-old Ecuador international will be able to leave on a free transfer.

“He’s had a fantastic career here at Manchester United and England, and he’s one of the Premier League winners left in the dressing-room, but I’m not sure if United and Antonio will agree on the next year,” said Solskjaer.

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“He’s still not 100 per cent fit and he is still working to get back fit. 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 percent fit and back on the pitch.”