Despite seemingly peaking in perfect time ahead of this month’s World Cup, Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea reportedly accepted he wasn’t going to receive a call by Spain boss Luis Enrique months ago.
While his future at Old Trafford remains somewhat up in the air with his contract expiring in eight months time, the 31-year-old looks back to his best and arguably better than ever.
The former Atletico Madrid man’s reflexes and shot stopping capabilities remain up there with the very best goalkeepers in the world, but United’s number one has shown positive signs that he can be moulded into the goalkeeper that Erik ten Hag craves.
Racing off his line and being comfortable with the ball at his feet aren’t attributes we’ve been accustomed to seeing during the Spaniard’s 11 years at the Theatre of Dreams.
But De Gea is rapidly becoming a reassured presence at the back who is both comfortable operating as a sweeper keeper and acting as another outfield player when United are in possession.
It says a lot about the standards the four-time Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year winner has set since being signed by Sir Alex Ferguson, that the match-winning saves he pulled off to deny Kurt Zouma and Declan Rice are nothing short of ordinary for the man who is capable of making the impossible possible.
David de Gea accepted World Cup fate months ago
Despite registering five Premier League clean sheets this season, which can only be bettered by Nick Pope and Ederson (both 6), and not conceding in eight hours at Old Trafford, the 45-time Spain international was overlooked by Enrique when the former Barcelona manager named a 55-man preliminary World Cup squad for La Roja, which included five goalkeepers.
De Gea hasn’t played for Spain since October 2020 and while he’s dramatically turned his fortunes around following the chastening afternoon he experienced against Brentford in August, where both his stop stopping and distribution failed him, he hasn’t done enough to change Enrique’s stance.
But Spanish outlet AS report: “The Spanish goalkeeper knew months before the list that he did not count for Luis Enrique, and not even his brilliant start with United in this new campaign has served to change the plans of the coach.”
Instead of heading to the Middle East with his national side, De Gea will be able to develop and work on his all-round game with Ten Hag and possibly accelerate talks about his long-term future at the club.
While De Gea’s contract does expire in June, United have the option of extending his stay by a further 12 months.
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