First Interview – David de Gea shows his class with Man Utd gesture despite Erik ten Hag snub
David de Gea’s departure from Manchester United in July marked the end of an era under the guidance of Erik ten Hag, who opted to chart a new course by securing the services of Andre Onana for a fee of £47 million.
However, De Gea’s connection with Manchester United endures, as demonstrated when the Spanish goalkeeper made an appearance in support of the club’s women’s team on Tuesday.
De Gea, currently unattached to any club since his release by United in July, was present at the Leigh Sports Village for the exciting Champions League clash, which ended in a 1-1 draw against Paris Saint-Germain.
The first-leg encounter saw United’s new signing, Melvine Malard, equalize after PSG had taken an early second-half lead.
The fans present at the stadium not only savored the closely contested match but were also treated to the sight of the 32-year-old De Gea in the stands.
His return to Manchester occurred three months after his departure, following a remarkable 12-year tenure with the Red Devils.
De Gea had been nearing the conclusion of his £375,000-a-week contract during the summer but had initially agreed to prolong his stay at Old Trafford, accepting a new contract with revised terms.
In a turn of events that ignited significant debate, United later withdrew their initial contract offer, initiating another round of negotiations that ultimately did not result in an agreement.
Manager Erik ten Hag, facing a tough call on the club’s No.1 goalkeeper, decided to bring in Andre Onana from Inter Milan for £47 million. This decision has since been under intense scrutiny.
Onana’s challenging start at Old Trafford has seen him concede 19 goals in just 11 appearances, with criticisms often pointing to his performance as a contributing factor.
Despite this, the Cameroonian international maintains the support of Ten Hag, with whom he had previously worked at Ajax.
Nevertheless, critics argue that letting De Gea go was an ill-fated decision, particularly considering that the 32-year-old remains unattached following his rejection of offers from Saudi Arabia.
Ten Hag, who had expressed a desire to retain De Gea, has yet to delve into the specifics of the choice.
During the pre-season period, the Dutch manager underscored De Gea’s impact on the club by emphasizing his significant contributions to securing a top-four position, clinching the Carabao Cup, and reaching the FA Cup final.
In Ten Hag’s words, “It’s massive what David has done for us and for Manchester United.
Last season he contributed so highly to our top-four position, to winning the Carabao Cup, and to reaching the FA Cup final. So, we are really grateful for what he did for us, and we highly respect him.”
Notably, De Gea’s tenure included an impressive 545 appearances, solidifying his place as a monumental figure in Manchester United’s 145-year history.
