The Saudis are wooing David De Gea.
De Gea has long been a fixture at Manchester United’s back door. In the summer of 2011, United ambitiously brought him in from Atletico Madrid to fill the void left by ‘legend’ Edwin van der Sar. After a shaky start to his career, he has settled in nicely, pulling off super saves in every game with his unusually long arms and pulling his team out of trouble on numerous occasions.
He was still the No. 1 this season. De Gea started and played full-time in every game and kept 17 clean sheets, earning him a Golden Glove.
But public opinion wasn’t so kind. While his saves were adequate, his footwork, which had previously been criticized, was highlighted. In particular, he made a costly mistake in a UEFA Europa League (UEL) match against Sevilla that led to a goal. On several other occasions, his unsteady footing led to crises.
This has led to speculation of his departure. Although his contract is set to expire, there have been no re-signing issues. Some fans argued that De Gea should be sold and another player brought in. Indeed, the likes of David Luiz and Jordan Pickford have been mentioned as possible candidates.
Nevertheless, it seems that De Gea’s stay with United will be extended. Alex Crook of British outlet TalkSPORT said last month on the UK’s Give Me Sport: “De Gea’s contract will be confirmed at the end of the season. He will probably choose to take a pay cut and stay at United for longer. He is still expected to be United’s first-choice goalkeeper next season.” 메이저놀이터
However, a contender has emerged. The main contender is Saudi Arabia. “The Saudi clubs know that United have a verbal agreement with De Gea to renew his contract,” wrote European soccer transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano on social media on Wednesday. However, they are continuing to make offers for him. United are still looking for a new goalkeeper.”
The Saudis’ recent behavior is frightening. They started with Cristiano Ronaldo last winter, followed by Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante. This summer, they went after Lionel Messi, and more recently, they’ve been pursuing veterans like Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Edin Dzeko, Riyad Mahrez, Sergio Ramos, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba.