Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag had reservations about David de Gea from the moment he took charge of the club. As the season progressed, these doubts only grew. Instead of focusing on the goalkeeper’s lack of comfort with the ball at his feet, Ten Hag chose to invest his transfer budget in other areas of the team. However, by the end of last season, Ten Hag had reached a point of no return. Mistakes in key matches convinced him that a change was necessary. De Gea eventually announced his departure from the club, realizing that his playing time would be significantly reduced if he stayed. While the club showed respect and appreciation for De Gea, Ten Hag is undoubtedly relieved that he is no longer part of the team.
Ten Hag has expressed his desire to bring Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana to Manchester United as De Gea’s replacement. Onana is the manager’s top choice due to their previous working relationship at Ajax. Discussions over the transfer fee are ongoing, and United is also considering other options, including Dean Henderson, who has returned from a loan spell at Nottingham Forest. Before the Champions League final, Pep Guardiola praised Onana as one of Inter’s most dangerous players. His ability to venture into midfield with the ball at his feet is a skill that De Gea never truly mastered. This deficiency cost him a place in Spain’s European Championship squad and prevented him from being part of the World Cup team in Qatar.
De Gea has expressed his desire for a new challenge, but it remains uncertain where he will go. The goalkeeper’s status in the game has changed since Real Madrid’s failed attempt to sign him in 2015. As a free agent, there are few top clubs that would be interested in acquiring him. Ten Hag’s opinion on De Gea is shared by many managers across Europe.
Last season, Ten Hag and John Murtough, the football director, made the decision not to trigger an automatic one-year extension in De Gea’s contract. Instead, they planned to negotiate a longer deal with reduced wages. Talks were positive initially, but as De Gea’s performances declined, Ten Hag became convinced that a new goalkeeper was necessary. Mistakes against West Ham and Sevilla highlighted the larger problem. Following the FA Cup final loss to Manchester City, Ten Hag admitted that improvements needed to be made if the team wanted to win trophies.
Despite a disappointing end to his United career, De Gea will eventually be remembered as a club legend. He made 545 appearances for the club and won four Player of the Year awards. De Gea played a crucial role in United’s last Premier League title victory under Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013. He also holds the record for the most clean sheets in the club’s history. However, his departure from Old Trafford lacked the fanfare it deserved, as he had believed he would be back for another season. While many fans may feel nostalgic about De Gea’s departure, most agree with Ten Hag that it is time for the club to move on.
