When Cristiano Ronaldo departed Manchester United in the summer of 2009, whoever was signed to replace him faced a monumental task.
And when that man was confirmed as Wigan Athletic’s Antonio Valencia, it was hardly an arrival to set the pulses racing. But after ten seasons at Old Trafford, which saw him win two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, the Europa League and a couple of League Cups, his place in Untied folklore is safe.
On Wednesday, two years to the day since his final appearance in a Red Devils shirt, the Ecuadorian announced his retirement from professional football with a touching tribute to the United faithful. “At the age of 14, as a child, I left my family, my village and first team to travel to the capital of my country.
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