The decision by Manchester United to release their 32-year-old goalkeeper, David De Gea, upon the expiration of his contract was somewhat expected. However, what has surprised many is that De Gea has not found new opportunities as quickly as anticipated. Despite not being a perfect fit for Erik ten Hag’s style of play, De Gea remains a highly skilled shot-stopper capable of performing at a high level.
Offers for De Gea have been few and far between, and those that have come his way have not been enticing enough to pique his interest. There are even hints that he might be considering retirement from professional football.
When Erik ten Hag took charge at Carrington, it became clear that De Gea’s future at the club was in jeopardy. Ten Hag’s philosophy centers around building play from the back, which requires a goalkeeper with strong ball-playing abilities. While De Gea has always excelled with his shot-stopping prowess, he falls short when it comes to ball distribution, especially when compared to top Premier League goalkeepers like Alisson Becker and Ederson. The evolution of the modern game has left De Gea struggling to keep up.
De Gea’s inability to adapt to Ten Hag’s playing philosophy made him a liability in the eyes of the former Ajax coach. Additionally, some high-profile errors further undermined his position. Considering his reported hefty weekly salary of £375,000, it’s understandable why Manchester United decided to part ways with their long-standing number one.
To fill the void left by De Gea, the club brought in Andre Onana. While Onana had a shaky start, the Cameroonian international is better suited to help the Red Devils build their play from the back.
De Gea’s stock has plummeted. Rumors of summer interest from Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, both potentially for short-term deals to cover for injured goalkeepers, were the most substantial options he and his agent could secure.
