By Tayo Amosu
October 18, 2014
Manchester United’s 23-year-old goalkeeper, David De Gea has reportedly gotten an offer of contract extension from his employers, primarily to reward the player for his astounding performance at Old Trafford over the years and also to ward-off interests from other clubs who want his signature.
De Gea’s contract expires at the end of this season and clubs have been lurking around to see if they could lure the Spanish number 2 goalkeeper away from Manchester United. Now, according to The Mirror, Manchester United would extend the player’s contract and are ready to offer a bumper £120, 000-a-week, 5-year deal to secure the goalkeeper’s long term future at Old Trafford.
However, on the sidelines, watching developments is Real Madrid, the UEFA Champions’ League title holders, who are out to replace their veteran goalkeeper, Iker Casillas on the long term.
Real Madrid have the money, stature and will to snap up any player they want but it would be down to Manchester United and the player to determine what they really want.
De Gea is Spanish and with the Gerrard Pique experience, Manchester United would be weary of Real Madrid’s attempt to lure the Spaniard back home.
Many Spanish players like Gerrard Pique, Cesc Fabregas and others, who have played outside of the Spanish La Liga always, somehow find their way back home to play for either Barcelona or Real Madrid.
The case of De Gea is even more threatening to United considering the fact that the player hails from Madrid and developed at Atletico Madrid.
David De Gea’s career has been on the rise since he moved to Manchester United in 2011.
He was captain for the Spain U-21 national side which won the European Championship in 2011 and 2013.
The goalkeeper also competed, representing his country in the 2012 Olympics and had since risen to be the Spanish national side’s second choice goalkeeper behind Iker Casillas of Real Madrid.
He was a member of the Spain squad to the 2014 FIFA World Cup held in Brazil, to defend their title.
They however, ended up humiliated and crashed out in the group stages.
With appearances in the World Cup, UEFA Champions League and the prestigious English Premier League part of his credentials, De Gea really deserves the attention he is getting from Manchester United and even Real Madrid at the moment.
If De Gea and his representatives accept the offer by Manchester United for him to be tied down to the Red Devils in a long term deal, it would represent exciting news for Manchester United supporters worldwide and it also would mean that he would hold down the United’s number 1 jersey and spot on the long term.
But if he considers Madrid out of the nagging need to go back home, he may satisfy that urge but the certainty of holding down the first choice goalkeeper’s pot may not be there.
Despite Real Madrid’s reported interest in De Gea as a long term replacement for ageing and lately disappointing Iker Casillas, The Spanish heavyweights just recently signed Keylor Navas from Levante.
Navas is an impressive goalkeeper who shined like a million starts for Costa Rica at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
The push and hope of playing regularly at Madrid nursed by Keylor Navas, and the uncertainties or instabilities of the managerial personnel experienced at Real Madrid may deter De Gea from realizing his dreams.
With Manchester United’s offer, De Gea would become one of the top earning goalkeepers in Europe and his job would be secured.
