Manchester United legend Roy Keane has asked the club to part ways with longtime goalkeeper David De Gea despite his winning the Golden Glove award.
Yesterday, in their last Premier League game of the season, Manchester United ran out 2-1 winners over Fulham. David De Gea played a crucial role by saving a penalty in the first half, denying Fulham’s striker Aleksandar Mitrovic. It was his first penalty save at Old Trafford in the league ever since he joined there.
After the game, the 32-year-old Spaniard was given the Premier League Golden Glove award for this season. He got the award as he has the most clean sheets in the Premier League with 17. The next nearest goalkeeper was Liverpool‘s Alisson Becker with 14 clean sheets.
As he was given the award by manager Erik Ten Haag, teammates posed with him and applauded him. This didn’t sit well with former Manchester United legend Roy Keane. The famous midfielder-turned-pundit is known to be a harsh critic with a no-nonsense approach to everything.
What did Roy Keane say?
It wasn’t the first time Roy Keane has bashed David De Gea. This time around, the pundit spoke on Sky Sports where images of the award being given to De Gea were shown.
🚨🇪🇸 Roy Keane on De Gea:
— UtdPlug (@UtdPlug) May 28, 2023
“I'd move him out quickly De Gea." pic.twitter.com/DvxLogh2g6
It was then that he said, “De Gea, they’re patting him on the back there. I’d move him on quickly, he’s not for me, he’s not going to get Man United back winning trophies, absolutely not. This idea of everybody patting him on the head, it’s just ridiculous. That’s his job.”
It’s clear that the Manchester legend doesn’t think highly of David De Gea. He believes United cannot compete for trophies as long as they keep De Gea and went on to say they must move on from him this summer, with him not being kept as a backup keeper even.
“You wouldn’t keep him as a number two. He’s been number one at United for 10 years, he wouldn’t stay on to be back up.”
Will David De Gea sign a new deal?
David De Gea will see his current contract run out next year. While he is keen to stay for more years, United wants him to take a drastic pay cut. Currently, he is one of the league’s best-paid players earning almost £ 375,000 a week.
Manager Erik Ten Haag also wants the player to stay, dismissing any notion of an exit.
He has been asked to reduce his wages if he wants to stay and even offered huge sums of money that would be earned through a testimonial match when he leaves eventually.
However, United will still buy a backup keeper to reinforce their squad. Brentford’s goalkeeper David Raya is considered a strong possibility as he wants to leave the club. Moreover, Everton’s Jordan Pickford and Porto’s Diogo Costa are also being monitored.
United can also have Dean Henderson rejoin the club from his loan spell at Nottingham Forrest. He was having a good playing spell there until he suffered a long injury. It is unknown if he would stay at United as he wants to be the main keeper and may look to leave.
United will have to decide soon this summer if they want to keep De Gea or not. Their fans are demanding success and having a good goalkeeper at the back is a priority.
