Valencia set to leave Manchester United

Antonio Valencia is set to leave Manchester United after the club declined to take up the option to activate a one-year extension in his contract.

The Ecuador international is approaching his tenth year at Old Trafford, and had a stipulation in his existing deal that would have allowed the club to extend his stay by a further season, which expired on Friday evening.

​Sky Sports have now reported that ​United have decided not to trigger that option, and that it is understood the side’s captain is resigned to leaving at the end of the current campaign.

The 33-year-old is currently back in his native Ecuador recovering from a calf injury that has kept him sidelined in recent weeks, with interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer previously revealing his concerns over the former Wigan star’s fitness.

​Valencia has made just nine appearances across all competitions this season, and has featured just once since Solskjaer replaced former manager Jose Mourinho.

Aside from injury problems, the veteran full-back has also seen his first-team opportunities limited by Ashley Young – who signed a one-year extension last month – and 19-year-old Diogo Dalot, who joined from Liga NOS side Porto last summer in a £19m deal.

After being a key figure in Wigan’s run in the ​Premier League in the late 2000s, Valencia joined Manchester United in 2009 in a £16m move, and has gone on to make 338 appearances for the Red Devils, winning the league twice.