After this season was considered a bust for Manchester United Keeper David De Gea, fans remain curious as to what the next step will be.
When Jose Mourinho arrived at Manchester United he expressed his ambition to build a strong team ready to compete on all fronts. In a recent press conference, Mourinho offered statements which showcase his main priorities, one of which is having a commanding keeper as the foundation of his rebuilding project.
Courtesy: The Sun
It has been widely rumored that Mourinho is not satisfied with goalkeeper David De Gea’s performance. The manager has questioned De Gea’s lack of assertiveness and whether he has the mental strength required to be a keeper.
So when it came to qualifying for the Champions League, and hopefully winning the Europa League, Mourinho chose Sergio Romero over David De Gea. Could it be an indication that the De Gea’s future may be hanging in the balance?
I think so.
When ManU signed De Gea from Atletico Madrid he was seen by fans as an outstanding replacement for Edwin Van der Sar. But De Gea hasn’t met expectations required to be Manchester United’s first-choice keeper.
De Gea’s weaknesses include an inability to deal with crosses and dead-ball situations, his lack of anticipation to leave his line quickly, and problems dealing with one-on-one situations.
De Gae has also conceded avoidable goals. An example is how Gylfi Sigurdsson, a set-piece specialist at Swansea, scored a beautiful goal off of a free kick at Old Trafford. And De Gea’s limited aerial ability was displayed on two goals he conceded against Tottenham at White Hart Lane.
While De Gea has produced fantastic saves, Mourinho expects more from a keeper than just being a shot-stopper.
During press conferences Mourinho has made it clear that De Gea will be at Manchester United next season. But I’m not convinced he means it. The Spaniard was left off the squad for United’s last two Premier League games and he wasn’t in goal for the Europa League final.
I think it’s most likely that De Gea has played his final game for the club. De Gea seems to feel the same way. He tweeted: “Gracias por vuestro apoyo siempre.” (“Thank you for your unconditional support!”)
It’s understood that United’s Executive Vice Chairman, Ed Woodward, would sanction a transfer if the right offer is on the table. And reports have it that Real Madrid is prepared to offer in excess of 60 million pounds for De Gea.
If De Gea leaves it will be interesting to see who will replace him. The name of Atletico Madrid keeper, Jan Oblak, is being thrown around. But I think Sergio Romero is the right man to step into the position. Romero’s astonishing performance in the Europa League has proven his worth.
Fans will be anxious to see how events unfold over the next couple of weeks. No matter who’s selected, that man will carry a big responsibility on his shoulders.
