David de Gea Open to Staying at Manchester United Despite Being Left off Retained List
David de Gea, Manchester United’s long-term number one goalkeeper, has not closed the door on a contract extension with the club. Despite being left off their retained list, de Gea remains open to staying at Old Trafford. The club says discussions with the Spaniard are ongoing, but negotiations over a new deal are believed to be based on de Gea accepting a lower basic wage which includes significant performance-related bonuses.
De Gea has presented his terms for signing a new contract on reduced wages, but the deal is yet to be signed off by the current United owners. With just two weeks until his contract expires, it appears that a compromise between club and player may not be as far advanced as either would expect.
Interest from Saudi Arabia
De Gea has interest from Saudi Arabia but would prefer to remain at Old Trafford. United have a list of targets in case de Gea leaves, including Jordan Pickford, Andre Onana, and Yann Sommer.
De Gea has spent 12 years at Old Trafford following his move from Atletico Madrid in 2011. The 32-year-old has made over 500 appearances for the club and worked under nine managers since Sir Alex Ferguson splashed £18m on the shot-stopper. He has won a multitude of trophies, including the Premier League title, FA Cup, and Europa League success under Jose Mourinho in 2017.
A Move to Real Madrid Fell Through
A move to Real Madrid fell through in the final moments of the summer transfer window in 2015, after the La Liga side claimed they had received a fax from United after the deadline, despite the Red Devils’ insisting otherwise. De Gea has clocked up 45 caps for Spain but has fallen down the pecking order under national team coach Luis De La Fuente.
Conclusion
David de Gea is a vital player for Manchester United and has been for over a decade. Despite being left off their retained list, he remains open to staying at Old Trafford. Negotiations over a new deal are ongoing, but it appears that a compromise between club and player may not be as far advanced as either would expect. With interest from Saudi Arabia, United have a list of targets in case de Gea leaves, including Jordan Pickford, Andre Onana, and Yann Sommer. However, de Gea would prefer to remain at Old Trafford and continue his successful career with the club.