Manchester United have backed out of a contract agreement with David de Gea and are looking to re-negotiate terms.
Trying to make sense of David de Gea‘s situation has been a little tricky in recent weeks. Various reports claimed De Gea had an agreement with Manchester United, while the club’s official line is that negotiations are ongoing.
De Gea’s contract expires later this week. Now, a report via The Athletic has shed light on the latest.
It is claimed United agreed a deal on a reduced salary with De Gea, and have now backed out of that agreement, now seeking to agree terms on an even lower wage. The goalkeeper is yet to sign.
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David de Gea is being treated poorly
No matter what your view of David de Gea’s role, and for the record, I believe he should be released, it is clear he is being messed about.
De Gea has been at the club since 2011, and is one of the club’s top 20 appearance makers of all time. He deserves to be treated with clarity and respect.
It’s possible, that United saw his late season errors, against West Ham and Manchester City, and have had second thoughts on his contract.
So why even wait that long to come to this conclusion, and still be offering him a deal?
De Gea should have been given clarity months ago, that Manchester United were moving on. Instead he has been strung along, messed about, and faces a messy departure from the club. Now, will he even want to stay?
Even if this ends up with the ‘right outcome’ of De Gea going elsewhere, or being number two to a new signing, it doesn’t take away from the fact that he has been messed around, and treated shambolicly.
It could be that Erik ten Hag vetoed the deal the club agreed. This situation would show a lack of joined-up thinking behind the scenes.
Reflective of ownership situation
When you look at who is running Manchester United, this is no surprise at all. The club have been indecisive, and classless over the De Gea issue.
It is reflective of the takeover farce, where the Glazers have again been indecisive, and classless, in the way they have strung both lead bidders along without a resolution.
Even if the Glazers have not been actively involved in the De Gea situation, they set the culture from the top down, and the goalkeeper is left, for now, in limbo.
And yes, renewing his deal would be a mistake – but stringing him along like this and going back on an ‘agreement’ is a total shambles.
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