The goalkeeper's decision not to take on the role of captain, when he was theoretically the next in line to do so, has since been heavily criticised on the social networks.
Xavi Hernández captained the Catalan side in Bilbao and when the Spain international midfielder was replaced by Leo Messi in the 58th minute, Xavi handed the armband to Thiago Alcántara so that he would pass it on to Valdés, the fourth club captain in line and the only one on the pitch due to the absence of Carles Puyol and Andrés Iniesta.
However, the armband did not reach the Barça shot-stopper and ended up on Messi's arm on the former's insistence. When Iniesta was brought on in the 77th minute, Messi gave him the armband and the Albacete-born midfielder became the team's third captain of the evening.
Questions have since been raised as to why Valdés refused to be captain. 'El Mundo Deportivo' stated several possible reasons. One being perhaps because of the fact that his last experience as captain was disastrous, as he was sent off in the Bernabéu and given a four-game ban.
Others believe that the decision was simply because it would have been too difficult for him to put on the armband whilst wearing his goalkeeper gloves.
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