Just when Manchester United didn’t need a distraction to come their way, Louis Van Gaal’s recent comments on David De Gea’s future could be a bad omen for everyone associated with the club. Mark Ogden writes in his column in the Daily Telegraph that United are now powerless to convince their goalkeeper to stay amidst heavy interest from Real Madrid.
The report states that the Red Devils have offered De Gea a new contract worth £200,000 a week which the club believes is a ‘lot of money’ for the 24 year old. The former Atletico Madrid shot stopper has a contract with United till June 2016 and has so far refused to commit his future to the Old Trafford outfit.
It is believed that there are two factors which could entice De Gea to switch loyalties for Real Madrid in the summer. It is believed that the Bernabeu side want De Gea to replace Iker Casillas who is in the twilight of his illustrious career. To replace Casillas would be an enormous task, but De Gea would relish the challenge having been in superb form this season, bailing United out a number of times when the backs were against the walls.
Secondly, De Gea’s pop-star girlfriend Edurne Garcia Almagro is also based in the Spanish capital which could be a key factor if the player does move at the end of the season. Moreover, Van Gaal has also admitted that United’s new acquisitions will also depend on the decision of players rather than the clubs involved in the deal.
Van Gaal said, “At the end, the player has to decide. Not the manager and not the manager of the selling club. It’s also dependable on the market. The club is dependable of the market and the selling clubs and the buying clubs. “
“It’s not so easy to finalise all the decisions you are making because the players are the boss, not the manager. Every time you read that I buy this player or that player, or have communicated with that player, it is not like that.”
United are also in the market for Memphis Depay while Ilkay Gundogan’s move is also imminent. Thus the club hierarchy will concentrate to bring in players and there is no doubt that they will do everything possible to keep De Gea. But if he refuses to sign an extension in the summer, a transfer is inevitable as United can not afford to lose a player of De Gea’s quality on a free transfer in 2016. So will they cash in come at the end of the current season?
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