Former Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea could consider retirement if he doesn’t receive a lucrative offer from a ‘major’ club.
The Guardian claim the 32-year-old wants to be the first-choice shot-stopper at his next club, or he may decide to hang up his boots from professional football.
De Gea departed Man United this summer after back-and-forth negotiations with the Red Devils hierarchy regarding a contract extension.
The keeper had previously refused to take a pay cut to facilitate his renewal, but rumour has it he eventually agreed to sign a new deal with a reduced salary.
However, Man United backed out of the initial agreement and tabled an even lower offer, which didn’t bode well for De Gea’s chances of an extension.
Despite heading into the latter stages of his lucrative career, De Gea, who turns 33 in November, has refused to settle for a back-up role at his next destination.
His decision is unsurprising, considering he spent 12 successful years at Old Trafford, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, two League Cups and the Europa League.
However, while he remains one of the best goalkeepers in the world, De Gea may need to lower his expectations if he hopes to land a proposal soon.
The Spaniard was linked with a move to several clubs across Europe shortly after his Man United exit, including Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, but none materialised.
Madrid signed Kepa Arrizabalaga on loan to cover for the injured Thibaut Courtois, while Bayern opted against luring him to the Allianz Arena with Manuel Neuer undergoing rehabilitation.
De Gea rejected offers from Saudi Pro League clubs in favour of remaining in Europe. But his options are heavily limited, with the ‘major’ clubs already well-stocked in the goalkeeping department.
However, there are still a handful of clubs that could offer him a route back into football, assuming the keeper is willing to wake up and smell the coffee.
In the spirit of lowering his expectations, we’ve identified three teams that may extend an olive branch, considering that financial factors are no longer a primary concern.
Rangers
De Gea might consider a similar career trajectory to his former Premier League counterpart Joe Hart, who moved to the Scottish Premiership in the later stages of his career.
Much like Hart’s successful tenure with Celtic, De Gea could explore the possibility of joining Rangers, who are consistent competitors for major honours in the Scottish top flight.
Displacing Jack Butland as Rangers’ first-choice goalie should be light work for the veteran Spanish shot-stopper, who would also enjoy the added benefit of guaranteed appearances in European competitions.
Leeds United
Leeds United could also pose an intriguing destination for De Gea, although competing in the English second tier doesn’t exactly classify as a major move.
Nevertheless, Leeds provides him with a platform for a potential resurgence and an opportunity to thumb his nose at Man United, especially if he helps the Yorkshire club secure promotion back to the Premier League.
Inter Miami
With financial considerations no longer a primary factor in his club selection, a move to the Major League Soccer represents another line of adventure De Gea could embark on, especially with Inter Miami.
Miami aren’t a major club by any stretch of the imagination, but De Gea could join Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets in the quest to elevate the United States outfit to a higher standard.
