David de Gea, the long-serving goalkeeper of Manchester United, is now expected to depart the club on a free transfer this summer, marking the end of his association with the English giants.
The 32-year-old Spaniard has been with Manchester United since 2011, making over 545 appearances for the club.
Although De Gea won the Golden Glove in the Premier League last season, keeping 17 clean sheets, he faced criticism for several high-profile errors. With his contract set to expire at the end of the week, there has been no announcement regarding a contract extension at Old Trafford.
A recent report suggested that De Gea had previously agreed to a new deal with Manchester United, but the club later withdrew from the agreement, leading to the current situation. The club is believed to have offered a lower contract than originally agreed upon.
While Manchester United has the option to trigger a one-year extension in De Gea’s current deal, it would mean retaining his significant weekly wages of £375,000, which is not favorable for the club.
According to the Daily Mail, the uncertainty surrounding the head coach, Erik ten Hag, is the primary reason for the contract U-turn. Ten Hag reportedly has reservations about De Gea following some below-par performances last season, including notable mistakes against Sevilla and West Ham United.
De Gea was also criticized for the last goal he conceded in the FA Cup final, where Ilkay Gundogan’s shot found the bottom corner of the net. As a result, the experienced goalkeeper is now reportedly preparing to leave Old Trafford this summer, and an agreement at this stage seems unlikely due to recent developments.
Several clubs from the Saudi Pro League are reportedly willing to offer De Gea a generous salary, potentially luring him away from European football to play in a league that features high-profile players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and N’Golo Kante.
Inter Milan’s Andre Onana and Brentford’s David Raya are mentioned as potential replacements for De Gea at Manchester United, with Onana having previously played under Ten Hag at Ajax.
Manchester United will begin their pre-season training in July to prepare for the 2023-24 campaign.
