David de Gea Leaves Manchester United After 12 Years
After 12 years of service, Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea has announced he is leaving Manchester United this summer. De Gea has been a stalwart for the Old Trafford club, making 545 appearances and keeping 190 clean sheets, both of which are club records for a goalkeeper.
De Gea joined United in 2011 for £18.9m from Atletico Madrid and has since gone on to win the Premier League, FA Cup, Uefa Europa League and two Carabao Cups. He was also a four-time United player of the year winner and claimed the Premier League Golden Glove for a second time last season as he kept 17 clean sheets.
“I just wanted to send this farewell message to all Manchester United supporters,” he wrote on social media. “I would like to express my unwavering gratitude and appreciation for the love from the last 12 years. We’ve achieved a lot since my dear Sir Alex Ferguson brought me to this club. I took incredible pride every time I pulled on this shirt, to lead the team, to represent this institution, the biggest club in the world was an honour only bestows upon a few lucky footballers. It’s been an unforgettable and successful period since I came here. I didn’t think from leaving Madrid as a young boy we would achieve what we did together. Now, it’s the right time to undertake a new challenge, to push myself again in new surroundings. Manchester will always be in my heart, Manchester has shaped me and will never leave me.”
The announcement of his departure comes with United manager Erik ten Hag’s side hopeful of concluding a deal for Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana. It is understood the framework of a contract extension that had initially been agreed between United and De Gea was subsequently changed, leading to both sides stepping back to reflect on the situation and this outcome.
Ten Hag said: “To have won player of the year awards from both the fans and his team-mates, each on four occasions, shows the level of his performance and he will always be remembered as one of the very best goalkeepers in the history of the club.”
De Gea has been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League and is now set to embark on a new challenge as he leaves Manchester United after 12 years of service. He will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the club’s history and his legacy will live on for many years to come.