With Champions League qualification wrapped up with four games to spare, we are making a plea for Manchester United to give forgotten man Sergio Romero one more game.
Romero was added to United’s eligible Premier League squad in February, the MEN reported, having been omitted at the start of the season. He is yet to make a matchday squad.
There is a case to change this, and give Romero one more match to bow out and say goodbye gracefully.
A good pro treated poorly
Romero has been United’s number two to David de Gea ever since signing for the club back in 2014. This season he has slipped further down the pecking order.
Last season there was even debate among United fans as to whether Romero should temporarily replace De Gea as number one, amid patchy form from the Spaniard.
Romero has made 61 total appearances for United, and played a part in the club reaching three cup semi-finals last season. He was then dropped for all three, and United lost all three.
In 2017 Romero was trusted to start the Europa League final, which United won.
Last summer Romero was linked with an exit, ESPN reported interest from Leeds and Everton. United did not sanction a move, leaving Romero in limbo, wasting his season.
At 34, Romero’s contract is due to expire this summer and his release seems inevitable. The Sun report he has even put his home up for sale.
The way Romero leaves a sour taste, because he been a model professional during his time at the club, and with United likely to need a number two, to back up Dean Henderson if David de Gea leaves, his impending exit now seems short-sighted.
Less than 18 months ago, Romero was professing his love for the club, speaking in a press conference ahead of a Europa League tie.
Romero told the club website: “When you get the chance to play for the greatest club in the world, and the chance to wear this shirt, it’s almost like fulfilling a dream – a dream coming true.
“So it’s something you’re not going to turn down. When I got the chance to come to Manchester United, it wasn’t that I accepted that I was only going to play just a few games. It’s not your intention to be second choice and, when [Louis] van Gaal gave me the opportunity, I grabbed it.
“I’ve spent four fantastic years at this club. So much so that I want to stay here as long as I possibly can. If I was playing more regularly and featuring in more games, I would be the happiest goalkeeper and person in the world.
“But the fact that I’m still playing the odd game here and there, I’m still very happy with my situation because I’m at a great club which I want to stay at.”
To see Romero’s situation unravel so much since then, is sad, because it seems like he deserves better. United should have let him leave, or at least sanctioned a loan.
Chance to make it right
United can’t make up for a totally wasted season for Romero, but the club can go some way to repairing it by giving the goalkeeper one last game, in which to say goodbye.
There are four league games left, and while David de Gea and Dean Henderson will want to battle it out for the Europa League final starting spot, Romero should be squeezed in to play one of the last games, possibly against Fulham or Wolves.
Romero is still training at Carrington, sending a message out over the weekend, communicating that he is still trying his best and wants to enjoy what is left of his time at the club.
United could afford to give Romero one more game, and end his season on a high note. It would not be a surprise to see him deliver a clean sheet.
The 2014 World Cup finalist’s last game was a clean sheet in the victory over FC Copenhagen in the Europa League quarter-finals last August.
Who knows, with one gesture of goodwill, Romero could be appeased to sign a short-term extension and renew as United’s number two next season. United will struggle to find anybody better suited.
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