<p>QUITO, Ecuador — Former Manchester United captain Antonio Valencia announced his retirement Wednesday after a series of knee injuries. </p>
<p>The 35-year-year-old Valencia has been playing for Mexican club Queretaro but said he will move back to his native Ecuador after retiring.</p>
<p>“It is a tough decision because I feel well mentally, but there is something that is not well in my body, my knee. It is sad," Valencia said during a news conference. “I didn’t think this moment would come so soon, but my body has asked me to make that decision.”</p>
<p>Valencia spent a decade at Man United from 2009-19, playing both as a right winger and right back and helping the team win two Premier League titles. He also won two League Cups, one FA Cup and one Europa League title. </p>
<p>He made 339 appearances for United, scoring 25 goals.</p>
<p>He also helped Ecuador qualify for the 2006 and 2014 World Cups and took part in four Copa America campaigns.</p>
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