Former Barcelona and Manchester United star Victor Valdes has retired from football - and lived up to a promise by immediately deleting his social media accounts.

The now former goalkeeper was most recently seen at Middlesbrough , and played 28 times as Boro were relegated from the Premier League last season.

And after weighing up his options during the current campaign, Valdes has announced his retirement from the game by deleting his Twitter and Instagram profiles, with the World Cup winner believed to be eyeing a quiet life away from football.

Valdes played for Barcelona for 12 seasons (
Image:
AFP)
His only season at Middlesbrough ended in relegation (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

Valdes first made the promise in an interview with Colombian television channel RCN in 2015, when he stated that he'd delete his social accounts in order to focus on bringing up his children.

"When the light goes out, one day it will go out, and I will be with the children, teaching them what can become," he said.

"I hope that when the light goes out, it will be hard to find me ."

Valdes has 1.2 million Instagram followers, but his account has now disappeared (
Image:
vicvaldes1/Instagram)
His Twitter profile has been deleted too (
Image:
Twitter)

Valdes played 535 times for Barcelona, winning six La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues.

He moved to Manchester United in 2014, but played just twice for the club in the Premier League before his 2016 move to Middlesbrough.

poll loading

Could you live without social media?

500+ VOTES SO FAR