David de Gea hopes Victor Valdes’ season-ending knee injury could allow him to earn a place in Spain’s World Cup squad.
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The Manchester United goalkeeper is uncapped with Spain manager Vicente del Bosque preferring to pick the established trio of captain Iker Casillas, Napoli’s Pepe Reina and Barcelona’s Valdes.
But Valdes will definitely miss the World Cup and is likely to be sidelined for seven months after tearing a cruciate ligament in his knee in Barcelona’s 3-0 win over Celta Vigo.
And while De Gea sympathises with his compatriot, the 23-year-old wants to be his replacement as 2010 champions Spain look to defend their title in Brazil this summer.
He told United’s official Facebook page: “Victor Valdes has picked up an injury and the first thing to say is that’s an absolute shame and not something you’d wish on anybody, least of all him. It’s an awful situation but perhaps it might open a door for me to be at the World Cup.”
De Gea, who joined United from Atletico Madrid in 2011, has represented Spain at every stage from under-15 to under-23 level but has struggled to displace the three more experienced goalkeepers, who have won a combined total of 204 caps, from Del Bosque’s squad.