‘De Gea worst thing to happen to Spain since 1981 military coup’

Joe Williams

David de Gea being selected in Spain’s World Cup squad was the worst thing that has happened to Spain since the 1981 military coup, according to Spanish TV presenter Jose Miguel Monzon Navarro.

Navarro was responding to comments from politician Pablo Casado that claimed “the most serious thing to happen to Spain” since 1981 was the allowance of a “rapporteur” in cross-party talks over Catalan independence.

However, Navarro disagreed and El Intermedio programme broadcast by laSexta that there were other things that have happened since 1981 that have been worse.

“Mr Casado, I know you are very young but since 1981 some little things have happened,” Navarro said.

“There have been very serious attacks, we have participated in an illegal war, a declaration of independence, there has been a political party judicially condemned for financing itself through irregular means.

“And that’s not even mentioning the worst thing that has happened to this country since then: having put De Gea as the goalkeeper at the World Cup.”

De Gea came under fire for his displays at the World Cup as Spain crashed out the tournament in the round of 16 to tournament hosts Russia and his place in the starting XI has been questioned.

ESPN claimed in November that sources have told them that De Gea thinks the criticism is ‘unfair’ and that he is being ‘treated harshly’ because he doesn’t play for Real Madrid or Barcelona.