On the preseason tour last summer, David de Gea was asked about his contract position and the potential of finishing his career at Old Trafford midway through an interview at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Perth.
De Gea assured us, “If it’s feasible, of course.” “I’ll stay here for sure if they let me,” the man said.
The odd response seemed to suggest that United was in control of the situation. Furthermore, it contributes to the understanding of why, ten months later, De Gea’s future is finally set to be decided.
On the one hand, the goalkeeper in question, a four-time club player of the year who is still 32 years old, is already guaranteed a spot in the pantheon of Old Trafford’s greatest goalkeepers.
When De Gea played against West Ham over the weekend, he surpassed Alex Stepney’s record for most appearances by a United custodian. He surpassed Peter Schmeichel’s clean sheet record in February and now has the most this season in the Premier League with 15.
De Gea, on the other hand, is drawing criticism at a time when contract negotiations seem to be moving in the right direction.
When Said Benrahma’s very pedestrian attempt bounced over his outstretched right hand to give West Ham the victory at the London Stadium, he was flailing helplessly at it.
De Gea’s errors have directly contributed to goals four times this season. United had to decide what to do with their seasoned No. 1, who is set to finish his 12th season at Old Trafford.
At the weekend, Erik ten Hag urged that De Gea should remain, and it’s possible that he does. But United’s ambivalence is important.
With only seven weeks left before De Gea becomes a free agent, negotiations have dragged on. Since January 1, he has been able to communicate with overseas clubs.
When United signed 12-month contracts with Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw, Fred, and Diogo Dalot in December, they chose not to do the same for De Gea.
The goalkeeper’s £375,000 weekly salary—the highest at Old Trafford—was the primary factor in this.
United wants De Gea to take a pay reduction, which is the key issue in negotiations (again, not exactly a resounding vote of confidence).
Both parties are hopeful that a settlement will be made before his current contract expires on June 30 as long as talks continue.
The cost of replacing De Gea in the summer, when Ten Hag is anticipated to spend the most of his budget on a striker, central midfielder, and centre back, is the other important consideration. Keepers of the highest calibre are not inexpensive.
Although a lot has changed at United since he spoke in Perth, the uncertainty around his future has persisted.
When United finally confirms the new deal, it won’t feel as much like a confession of love and more like a marriage of convenience.