"I will disappear completely after I retire" - the reclusive life of the former Barcelona goalkeeper

Who is Valdes? For old fans, this name represents the most reliable patron saint of Barcelona during the "Dream Second Dynasty" period. He is not a goalkeeper in the traditional sense, but one of the first goalkeepers in modern football to "play" with both feet. His delicate foot skills and accurate ball delivery are an indispensable part of Guardiola's passing and control system.

In more than ten years playing for Barcelona, ​​he helped the team win numerous honors. He is a witness and founder of the glorious years of the Red and Blue Legion.

But unlike his dazzling appearance on the court, Valdez's character has always been low-key and restrained. As early as the peak of his career, he publicly stated: "When I retire, I will disappear completely. I will go to a place where no one can find me." At the time, many people thought this was just a joke. Now it seems that he really did it.

In 2017, Valdes officially retired. At first, he didn't leave football entirely. He chose coaching, starting with the youth training club Morataras in his hometown, and returned to Barcelona in 2019 as the head coach of the U19 youth team. However, this return did not go well and he resigned just a few months later due to disagreements with the club's management.

In March 2025, he briefly returned to the public eye and served as the coach of the Spanish third-tier league team Atletico Avila. But he only led the team for 4 games. In May, he suddenly resigned without public reasons or farewell statement. From then on, he seemed to disappear.

According to the Spanish "Marca" report, even acquaintances who once worked with him have lost contact with him. A person familiar with the matter revealed: "He does not reply to messages, his WhatsApp account has been canceled, and there is no trace on social media - no Instagram, no Twitter, nothing."

People familiar with him said that Valdez has always been an extremely self-disciplined person who pursues peace. He doesn't like the spotlight and hates hype, preferring to stay away from the hustle and bustle and live a simple and even almost reclusive life.

Today, no one knows where he is, whether he is still paying attention to football, or whether he has completely turned to another life. But it is this determination to "disappear when you say it disappears" that makes Valdez's story even more legendary.