Victor Valdes has spoken candidly for the first time about his departure from Manchester United.

The Spanish goalkeeper, now with Middlesbrough, endured a difficult time at Old Trafford after he was given the chance to resurrect his career by Louis van Gaal, who gave him his start at Barcelona.

Valdes was forced to train on his own following an alleged fall-out with van Gaal but he insists there is no ill-feeling towards the man he describes as a father figure.

The 34-year-old told Sky Sports News HQ: "I feel like a professional footballer again after all those hard days in Manchester.

"It's difficult to explain, but it was hard being alone. Sometimes at United I thought 'I don't need this', but I am a fighter and a professional."

"I don't have any bad words for Van Gaal or Manchester United. They helped me through my injury and the manager gave me my chance as a footballer at Barcelona and then again at United.

"He's like a father figure to me. I don't want to remember the last six months in a bad way - for me he is in the top. We are still friends and there is no problem between us.

"I want to say in a public way thank you to the U21 coach Alan Fettis - without him I may have given up football. He made me keep going and stopped me when I was thinking about bringing my career to an end."