Roland Cutinho
David de Gea departs to ‘seek a new challenge’ after playing for more than a decade for Manchester United
As revealed by the club’s official website, David de Gea has announced his departure from Manchester United as a free agent after spending 12 seasons at Old Trafford.
The 32-year-old’s contract with the club expired in June, and despite ongoing discussions throughout the season, no new agreement was reached.
The Red Devils were still in negotiations with the Spaniard when his contract expired on June 30. As stated by the Athletic [subscription required], the veteran keeper had initially agreed to a contract extension, but the club later withdrew the offer and presented revised terms.
In the past few days, the former Atletico Madrid goalkeeper has shared a series of cryptic tweets, further creating an uncomfortable situation surrounding his future.
But now, De Gea is leaving his ‘dream club’ as a legend. After a 12-year tenure, the keeper is leaving Old Trafford, having achieved success with United by winning the Premier League, Europa League, and FA Cup.
While writing on Twitter, he said:
“I just wanted to send this farewell message to all Manchester United supporters. I would like to express my unwavering gratitude and appreciation for the love for 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 bestowed upon a few lucky footballers. Now it’s the right time to undertake a new challenge, to push myself again in new surroundings.”
The Spanish goalkeeper was brought to the club by Sir Alex Ferguson in 2011 when he was only 20 years old.
Despite initial challenges adapting to the physicality of the Premier League, De Gea established himself as United’s top-choice goalkeeper and rapidly gained recognition as one of the finest shot-stoppers globally.
In 2015, he was on the verge of joining Real Madrid, but a paperwork mistake ultimately prevented the transfer from happening. Instead, De Gea opted to sign a new contract with United and even had the honour of captaining the team during that season.
He has been recognised as the club’s Player of the Year on four occasions, achieving a remarkable three consecutive wins from 2013 to 2016. However, his performance level declined last season as he entered the final year of his contract.
As stated by the Athletic [subscription required], De Gea had agreed to a wage reduction from £375,000 to £200,000 per week, but no official contract was signed, leaving him as a free agent.
The Red Devils are now closing in on a transfer deal with Inter for Andre Onana, who has already agreed to personal terms. While a formal bid for the Cameroonian goalkeeper has yet to be submitted, it is expected to occur sometime this week.
Although there is a sense of sadness surrounding the news, David’s legacy remains untarnished. In what turned out to be his final match at Old Trafford, he showed his worth by saving a crucial penalty, preventing Fulham from taking a 2-0 lead, and ultimately helping us secure a victory.
The fans had the opportunity to express their gratitude when he proudly displayed the Golden Glove award for achieving the most clean sheets in the 2022-23 Premier League season.
David holds a remarkable record of 545 appearances for Man United, surpassing any overseas player in the club’s rich history.
It’s a huge achievement to be named among the former club greats like Alex Stepney, Edwin van der Sar, and Peter Schmeichel.
As United fans, we are grateful to De Gea for his exceptional service, unwavering dedication, and incredible charisma. Witnessing his phenomenal saves was indeed a privilege. We wish him the best in his future endeavours.
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Ending with one final sentence: A true legend who continued the Sir Alex Ferguson blueprint since 2013
