David de Gea, a stalwart in Manchester United’s goal for 12 remarkable seasons, inscribed his name in the club’s history, clinching the club’s Player of the Year accolade four times during his tenure before leaving in the summer of 2023. Yet a baffling question persists: why has this exceptional goalkeeper not found a new home? Having bid farewell to Old Trafford at the conclusion of his contract in June, de Gea’s current state of being unattached to any club remains a topic of intrigue and speculation in the football world. As fans and pundits alike ponder his next destination, if there is one at all, the saga surrounding de Gea’s future underscores the complexities and uncertainties inherent in the realm of professional football transfers.
David de Gea’s journey at Manchester United was a rollercoaster ride, marked by highs of exceptional goalkeeping prowess and lows of challenging performances. Arriving from Atlético Madrid in 2011 as a promising young talent, de Gea faced early skepticism due to his slight frame and initial struggles to adapt to the physicality of the Premier League. However, he quickly silenced doubters with breathtaking saves and acrobatic displays, earning plaudits as one of the most talented shot-stoppers in the world.
Throughout his tenure, de Gea played a pivotal role in United’s successes, including their Premier League title win in the 2012-2013 season and several domestic cup triumphs. His remarkable reflexes and ability to produce crucial saves in high-pressure moments endeared him to the Old Trafford faithful, earning him four Player of the Year awards.
Despite the highs, de Gea faced scrutiny during periods of inconsistency, particularly amidst managerial changes and defensive reshuffles within the team. Criticism intensified during a few notable errors and dips in form, fueling speculation about his future at the club.
The end of an era 💔
— 365Scores (@365Scores) July 8, 2023
David De Gea announces that he is leaving Manchester United, and with that, he was the last player standing from United’s 2013 Premier League winning team 😢#DeGea #ManUnited #EPL #365Scores pic.twitter.com/0iEb6QlGrq
As the years progressed, de Gea remained a steadfast presence between the posts, demonstrating his resilience and determination to overcome challenges. Even in de Gea’s last season, he won the Golden Glove, keeping 17 clean sheets, and also won a Carabao Cup. Yet, football is a game that is constantly modernising and there was a fundamental modernisation between 2011 and 2023 that de Gea could not keep up ability with the ball at his feet. Nowadays, goalkeepers are not only expected to make saves but also to be secure with the ball at their feet and start attacks. De Gea was not good at this. He was a reactive keeper, not a proactive one. His incredible reflex saves often stemmed from him losing the ball initially, or not claiming the ball from crosses. The FA Cup Final against Manchester City was his swansong. Only eight of his 26 long balls were accurate. As a result, manager Erik ten Hag decided that a clean break was best for all parties and rescinded the contract extension offer on the table. Manchester United moved swiftly for Inter Milan, and ex-Ajax, goalkeeper André Onana and the de Gea era was over to the joy of some and the dismay of many others.
Many expected the Spaniard to be quickly snapped up by another top club. Whilst his technical deficiencies were well established, this was still the goalkeeper who had just kept the most clean sheets in the Premier League. Eight months later, it is clear that this has not been the case.
David de Gea, currently basing himself in Madrid, fills his days with the various activities of an active retired man, including playing padel, hitting the gym, spending time with his young daughter, meeting friends for coffee, and managing his eSports team. During his time at United, he amassed a significant fortune, earning £375,000 per week from 2019 to 2023, and it is clear that de Gea is taking some time to enjoy that wealth, rather than being in constant pursuit of more. Given his recent marriage to his fiancée, Edurne, in the summer, it’s understandable that he is taking his time to carefully evaluate his options before making any decisions.
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It’s not that the Spanish goalkeeper hasn’t received any offers, it’s just that he hasn’t received any he’s so keen about. There was speculation that he might sign for Inter Milan to replace Onana, but the prospect didn’t compel him.
As a free agent, De Gea had the chance to join a new club even after the end of the summer transfer window. Speculation surrounded a potential move to Newcastle United to fill in for the injured Nick Pope, but nothing materialised. Subsequently, during the January transfer window, more concrete discussions emerged with Saudi Pro League club Al-Shabab, followed by last-minute negotiations with Nottingham Forest. However, neither option advanced significantly. De Gea wants to spend time with his now wife and three-year-old daughter, and they wouldn’t move to the Middle East, so that is almost a non-starter.
Of particular interest was Nottingham Forest’s pursuit, with intermediaries attempting to persuade De Gea of the advantages of such a move, someone similar to Keylor Navas’ Forest move last year. They argued that a short-term contract with a Premier League club would serve as an ideal showcase of his abilities and attract attention from potential suitors for a more high-profile transfer in the summer. Despite these enticing propositions, De Gea remained steadfast in his decision.
The problem is that the longer de Gea stays out of the game, the harder it is to get back in it.
There have not been many players that have left the game and come back into it. Michael Jordan in basketball famously left the game, played professional baseball, and then came back better than ever. But de Gea isn’t Michael Jordan, and neither are most footballers. Aged 40, Jens Lehmann was enticed out of retirement to rejoin Arsenal in 2011, though this return only resulted in a single competitive appearance. Paul Scholes came out of retirement to win Manchester United the league in 2013. But successful examples are few and far between. It is uncommon.
As a result, the options for de Gea aren’t getting any better. Retirement is one option but the Spaniard is only 33, one would expect that he has at least five more years in him. Option two is to move to the USA. He would enjoy a great quality of life, he’s a big NBA fan and in a city such as Miami, there is a large Spanish-speaking community. Option three is moving to a team in Europe, most likely Spain. Real Madrid have Thibaut Courtois, Atletico have Jan Oblak and Barcelona have Marc-Andre ter Stegen, so they’re all covered in that department. Yet there are plenty of teams that would benefit from the services of the veteran.
Either way, with a FIFA Team of the Year appearance, a Premier League title, a Europa League, and four Manchester United Player of the Year awards as well as the fourth most clean sheets in Premier League history, you could say it’s been a successful footballing career for David de Gea.
Keep up with all the latest David de Gea news on the 365Scores website!
By Nicky Helfgott / @NickyH3lfgott on Twitter
