The Telegraph felt the story news worthy enough to yesterday speculate about the future of Manchester United’s young stopper David De Gea. They went as far as to say that De Gea is reportedly unhappy at Old Trafford after failing to so far cement a place in the first team. The newspaper reported the story in a way that implies they have inside knowledge on the affair.
At 21 De Gea is clearly going to be a world class keeper. He has sublime reflexes and technical ability. His decision making needs polish but his distribution is largely velvety. This said, he rarely sees out 90 minutes without at least one blunder. Against Braga, with United having finally turned around a 2 goal deficit, De Gea made a ridiculous short pass out of defence which so nearly surrendered his side’s hard earned lead yet again.
Yes he has made errors, but it’s just unlucky for him that he happens to be a keeper. Young players make mistakes, but the problem for goalkeepers is that their mistakes regularly lead to a goal, due to their sheer proximity to the sticks. Sir Alex knew he would see some mistakes from De Gea in his early career but his development is largely going to plan.
soccersweep thinks, however, that Manchester United was always going to be a finishing school for De Gea before he moved back to Spain. At the moment Barcelona have Victor Valdes and Real have Iker Casillas – both world class and fully formed keepers who expect to be number one. So De Gea’s choices in 2010 were to stay at Atletico or play for one of the biggest clubs in the world. He chose the latter but, unless he falls in love with England, he will probably return to one of the Spanish giants before long.
I think that Sir Alex saw De Gea’s signing as a no lose situation. If he stays then United have a number 1 for 15 years. If he does leave then United will, at very least, recoup the £18m paid out for him.
But you just get the sense that the big Spanish clubs each have one eye fixed on De Gea’s development.
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