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As Sir Alex Ferguson said goodbye to his players in London on Sunday night, it would have been no surprise if the Manchester United manager was already considering a more permanent farewell to goalkeeper David de Gea.
Hours earlier the Spaniard’s woeful punch had led to Tottenham’s injury-time equaliser at White Hart Lane, costing his team two points in the Barclays Premier League title race.
Following De Gea’s latest blunder it is understood United will explore the possibility of sending him back to Spain in the summer after accepting that he is unlikely to ever settle on or off the pitch
in England.
in England.
*Scroll down to see video footage of De Gea's girlfriend Edurne in action
Up in the air: David De Gea's latest gaffe could spell end of his United career
Miss you: David De Gea has lived alone in Manchester while his pop star girlfriend Edurne stays in Madrid
Owen offers his support
Stoke and former Manchester United striker Michael Owen leapt to the defence of under-fire goalkeeper David De Gea.
He tweeted: 'Always thought the stick De Gea got at the start of his United career was harsh. He is top class and will only get better.'
There have been concerns for some time that the 22-year-old is homesick. His pop star girlfriend Edurne has stayed in Madrid throughout the player’s time in Manchester and language problems have hindered attempts to bond with many of his teammates.
Since becoming the most expensive goalkeeper in the history of British football at £17.8million, De Gea has also struggled with the challenge of succeeding Edwin van der Sar at Old Trafford and the more physical demands of the Premier League.
There has never been any doubt about his shot-stopping capabilities.
The former Atletico Madrid keeper made some fantastic saves to protect United’s lead against Spurs, although he got away with another parry to the edge of his six-yard box having seen it lead to goals against Swansea and Liverpool in the last month.
It would be unfair to say De Gea has not improved since a shaky start to life at United.
But he has progressed little when it comes to dealing with high balls which, combined with a failure to bulk up over the last two-and-a-half-years, means United know opponents will always target him while he remains physically frail and mentally fragile in that part of his game.
De Gea had already punched a couple of high balls instead of catching them on Sunday before his weak attempt at clearing Benoit Assou-Ekotto’s cross fell straight to Aaron Lennon in the penalty box who squared the ball for Clint Dempsey to equalise in the last of three minutes of added time.
Former United defender and Sky TV pundit Gary Neville packed considerably more punch after the game.
VIDEO Edurne performs 'These boots are made for walking'
All white in the end: Clint Dempsey scored to make it 1-1 at White Hart Lane in the snow
Not enough: De Gea didn't punch the ball far enough away from his six-yard box to remove the danger Benoit Assou-Ekotto's cross presented
‘You can’t do that,’ said Neville. ‘They are big, big moments. That punch there has cost his team.
‘He’s got to clear it out of his box, take everything with him. We’re talking about playing for Manchester United and trying to win a championship. You’ve got to punch that 15 or 20 yards away.
‘Schmeichel, Van der Sar, he’s got to get to that level. He knows (that he’s made a mistake).’
Not for the first time, De Gea’s body language spoke volumes. That and an obvious lack of communication do little to reassure his defenders that he is control of the situation. Some are said to prefer playing in front of Anders Lindegaard.
However, Ferguson has not picked the Dane for a Premier League game since he conceded three goals in 23 minutes at Reading at the start of December, casting doubt over Lindegaard’s own future at Old Trafford.
While his players left London for Stansted Airport on Sunday and four days of warm weather training in Qatar, Ferguson stayed behind in the capital for a United Foundation fundraiser on Monday.
He is also expected to hold talks over a deal for Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha on Tuesday.
As well as an imminent FA charge, however, it’s safe to say the United boss will be troubled by the issue of just what to do with his first-choice goalkeeper in the summer.
Aerial blunder: De Gea laments after a weak punch led to a late Tottenham equaliser
Not out of the question: De Gea may move to replace Victor Valdes at Barcelona, with the Barca keeper moving the other way
Real Madrid and Barcelona are the obvious destinations if he decides to cut his losses on De Gea.
Iker Casillas is in dispute with Jose Mourinho at the Bernabeu and Victor Valdes is expected to confirm his departure from Barca any time now after refusing to extend a contract that runs out
next year.
next year.
De Gea’s stock remains high in Spain with both clubs satisfied that the problems he has experienced at United are unique to English football. A move to either would satisfy his wish for a return home and guarantee that United recoup enough money on the deal to save face.
Neither move would be completely straightforward though. While De Gea shares Mourinho’s agent Jorge Mendes, his history with Atletico could be a problem, and Barcelona are keen on taking Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina back to the Nou Camp.
Impressive: Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic has been in exceptional form since joining the Potters
Tempted? Jose Mourinho and De Gea have the same agent
And what about finding a replacement for De Gea at Old Trafford? Reina was one of the options considered by United before they moved for his compatriot, and it is believed that signing him from fierce rivals Liverpool now would be less complicated than it was then.
Sportsmail revealed last month that Stoke’s Asmir Begovic tops a list of other possible targets which includes Fernando Muslera of Galatasaray and Borussia Monchengladbach’s Marc-Andreter Stegen. A swap deal for Valdes is not out of the question.
Either way, it would appear that De Gea’s painful learning curve in England could be coming to
an end.
an end.
THE GLOVES THAT DIDN’T FIT…
In Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar, Sir Alex Ferguson managed two of the great goalkeepers of the Premier League era. But since their respective departures, he has always struggled to find United’s next No 1.
Talented: But Bosnich didn't last
RAIMOND VAN DER GOUW Jul 1996 – Jun 2002
The Dutchman moved to United in July 1996, acting largely as cover for Schmeichel. But he played enough matches in the 1999/00 season to win a Premier League medal and also acted as a youth coach.
The Dutchman moved to United in July 1996, acting largely as cover for Schmeichel. But he played enough matches in the 1999/00 season to win a Premier League medal and also acted as a youth coach.
MARK BOSNICH Jun 1999 – Jan 2001 When he signed on a free from Aston Villa in 1999, the Australian was seen as the natural successor to Schmeichel. But indifferent performances and a hamstring injury meant he struggled in his first season and he never made the No 1 shirt his own.
MASSIMO TAIBI Aug 1999 – Jul 2000
Signed as a promising talent from Venezia for £4.5m, Taibi made an error on debut to allow Sami Hyypia to score for Liverpool. But it was his howler against Southampton – letting a Matt Le Tissier shot dribble through his legs – that sealed his fate. He was sold after playing just four games for United.
MASSIMO TAIBI Aug 1999 – Jul 2000
Signed as a promising talent from Venezia for £4.5m, Taibi made an error on debut to allow Sami Hyypia to score for Liverpool. But it was his howler against Southampton – letting a Matt Le Tissier shot dribble through his legs – that sealed his fate. He was sold after playing just four games for United.
Eccentric: Barthez failed to live up to the hype
FABIEN BARTHEZ May 2000 – Apr 2004
The eccentric Frenchman joined from Monaco for £7.8m after impressing on international duty, but his was an inconsistent reign. Horrendous errors against Deportivo and Arsenal gifted four opposition goals in as many weeks, but he was equally capable of making spectacular acrobatic saves.
ANDY GORAM Mar 2001 – Jun 2001
With Barthez and Van Der Gouw both injured, Ferguson loaned the veteran Scot from Motherwell to help with his side’s title run in. He played just twice – in a 4-2 win over Coventry and a 2-1 loss at Southampton – as United retained the Premier League title.
ROY CARROLL Jul 2001 – Jun 2005
Carroll faced competition from Barthez and later Tim Howard when he moved to Old Trafford, and the Northern Irishman never
made the No 1 shirt his own. Blunders like
his fumble over the line against Tottenham –
a goal that was not given – didn’t help his
cause.
The eccentric Frenchman joined from Monaco for £7.8m after impressing on international duty, but his was an inconsistent reign. Horrendous errors against Deportivo and Arsenal gifted four opposition goals in as many weeks, but he was equally capable of making spectacular acrobatic saves.
ANDY GORAM Mar 2001 – Jun 2001
With Barthez and Van Der Gouw both injured, Ferguson loaned the veteran Scot from Motherwell to help with his side’s title run in. He played just twice – in a 4-2 win over Coventry and a 2-1 loss at Southampton – as United retained the Premier League title.
ROY CARROLL Jul 2001 – Jun 2005
Carroll faced competition from Barthez and later Tim Howard when he moved to Old Trafford, and the Northern Irishman never
made the No 1 shirt his own. Blunders like
his fumble over the line against Tottenham –
a goal that was not given – didn’t help his
cause.
Inconsistent: Howard failed to recover from errors
TIM HOWARD Jul 2003 – Feb 2007
Signed from MetroStars of the MLS, Howard made an immediate impact at United, saving twice in a Community Shield penalty shootout against Arsenal. But a last-minute error against Porto saw United eliminated from the Champions League in 2004 and, angry at the club’s signing of Van Der Sar, he left for Everton.
TOMASZ KUSZCZAK Jul 2007 – Jun 2012
Initially signed on a loan deal from West Brom, Kuszczak spent much of his time as Van Der Sar’s understudy. But in a 2008 FA Cup tie against Portsmouth, he conceded a penalty and was sent off 12 minutes from time. Rio Ferdinand took over the gloves, but he proved to be another unsuccessful goalkeeper as United crashed out.
Signed from MetroStars of the MLS, Howard made an immediate impact at United, saving twice in a Community Shield penalty shootout against Arsenal. But a last-minute error against Porto saw United eliminated from the Champions League in 2004 and, angry at the club’s signing of Van Der Sar, he left for Everton.
TOMASZ KUSZCZAK Jul 2007 – Jun 2012
Initially signed on a loan deal from West Brom, Kuszczak spent much of his time as Van Der Sar’s understudy. But in a 2008 FA Cup tie against Portsmouth, he conceded a penalty and was sent off 12 minutes from time. Rio Ferdinand took over the gloves, but he proved to be another unsuccessful goalkeeper as United crashed out.
BEN FOSTER Jul 2005 – May 2010
Initially signed from Stoke for £1m, Sir Alex Ferguson predicted Foster would become England’s next No 1. But injuries and errors meant he never replaced Van Der Sar at Old Trafford. With opportunities at United limited, Foster left for Birmingham in 2010.
Initially signed from Stoke for £1m, Sir Alex Ferguson predicted Foster would become England’s next No 1. But injuries and errors meant he never replaced Van Der Sar at Old Trafford. With opportunities at United limited, Foster left for Birmingham in 2010.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2266111/David-Gea--Alex-Ferguson-ready-sell-Manchester-Uniteds-goalkeeper.html#ixzz2IiUDZloC
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