Man United’s De Gea leaves the club as a legend despite a bittersweet ending

Erik ten Hag had doubts about David De Gea from his first day in command of Manchester Unitedhowever in direction of the tip of final season it reached the purpose of no return. Final summer time, Ten Hag’s first in cost, he determined he had inherited larger issues than a goalkeeper who wasn’t totally comfy with the ball at his ft and as an alternative spent his switch funds on a centre-back, a left-back, a midfielder and a winger.

When Ten Hag sat down with soccer director John Murtough early this 12 months to resolve spend this summer time’s cash, the prevailing opinion was that he might dwell with De Gea as his No.1 for an additional 12 months. However then he modified his thoughts.

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Errors in opposition to SevillaWest Ham and within the FA Cup ultimate in opposition to Manchester City satisfied Ten Hag that it was time for a change. In the long run, it was De Gea who announced his exit on Saturdayhowever solely after realising that, had he stayed, his position would have been tremendously lowered. De Gea’s social media posts had been swiftly adopted by a membership assertion through which Murtough stated De Gea would “go away Manchester United with the deepest respect and warmest appreciation of everybody related to the membership.” However Ten Hag, for one, will likely be relieved he is gone.

If he will get his approach, Inter goalkeeper Andrew Onan will arrive to take De Gea’s place, though there nonetheless must be a compromise over the switch price. United are different targets whereas Dean Hendersonagain from his mortgage spell at Nottingham Forestcan be being thought of, however Onana is Ten Hag’s first selection, having labored collectively at Ajax.

Earlier than the Champions League ultimate, Manchester Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola highlighted Onana as certainly one of Inter’s most harmful gamers due to the positions he is in a position to take up. Sometimes, through the sport in Istanbul, the Cameroon worldwide strolled into midfield with the ball at his ft. For all of De Gea’s attributes, significantly his capability as a reflex shot-stopper, it is one thing he by no means bought to grips with. He was dropped by former Spain coach Luis Enrique forward of the European Championships for a similar purpose, and he wasn’t even a part of the squad for the World Cup in Qatar.

De Gea stated on Saturday it is “time for a brand new problem,” however the query is the place? The sport has moved on since Real Madrid tried desperately to signal him from United in the summertime of 2015, and there will likely be few prime golf equipment choosing up the telephone even now that he is a free agent. Most managers throughout Europe will share Ten Hag’s opinion.

Early final season, Ten Hag and Murtough determined they would not set off an automated one-year extension in De Gea’s contract value round £375k-a-week and as an alternative would look to barter an extended deal on lowered wages. Talks had been constructive and, at one stage, an settlement was shut — though United insist {that a} formal contract supply was by no means made — however as De Gea struggled throughout April and Might, Ten Hag grew to become extra satisfied that, even working with a restricted summer time funds due to Monetary Truthful Play restrictions, a brand new goalkeeper must be a precedence within the switch window.

De Gea made a poor mistake in opposition to West Ham, letting Said Benrahma‘s weak shot slip by means of his fingers, however it was his show within the Europa League tie in opposition to Sevilla that highlighted the larger drawback. Twice he was caught out with the ball at his ft and United misplaced 3-0. Ten Hag defended his goalkeeper from public criticism after West Ham and Sevilla, however following the FA Cup ultimate defeat to Man Metropolis, Ten Hag modified his tone.

“Say it like this, we’re in the fitting course,” he stated. “However there are events within the sport, points within the sport we’ve to enhance, positively, if we wish to make the following step and win trophies.”

Regardless of a limp finish to his United profession, De Gea will likely be remembered — ultimately — as a membership legend. His 545 appearances places him seventh on the all-time listing and his 4 participant of the 12 months awards in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018 is just matched by Cristiano Ronaldo. He was a part of the final United staff to win the Premier League title below Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, and in February handed Peter Schmeichel’s document for probably the most clear sheets in United’s historical past. He had 17 within the Premier League final season to win his second Golden Glove award.

There’s something unlucky about De Gea strolling off after his ultimate sport at Outdated Trafford with none nice fanfare as a result of, at that time, he nonetheless believed he could be again subsequent season. Even Bruno Fernandes stated in his farewell message posted on social media that De Gea “deserved to say goodbye on the stadium with all of the followers cheering you for all the attractive recollections.”

Many followers will agree with Fernandes that it is a unhappy finish to an ideal United profession, however most can even agree with Ten Hag that it is time to transfer on.