Man Utd chiefs ‘regret’ major contract given to star in 2019
Manchester United officials regret the decision to give David De Gea a bumper new contract two years ago, according to a report.
The Spanish goalkeeper signed a new deal at Old Trafford in 2019 worth £375,000 a week.
It made him the highest paid shot-stopper in the world, ahead of Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak and Thibaut Courtois of Real.
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According to The Athletic, De Gea’s deal has led to tension among United’s top officials.
They have lived to regret the decision as it has coincided with a reduction in form.
The wages offered have also resulted in stress when trying to negotiate new contracts with his team-mates.
Important first team players want to be on a similar salary to De Gea if not higher, which has threatened to destabilise the club’s wage structure.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer now has Dean Henderson at his disposal, too.
The Englishman has never hidden from the fact that he wants to become the club’s number one.
He made 13 Premier League appearances last term and could receive even more game time in the upcoming campaign.
Such a move would certainly threaten the future of De Gea at Old Trafford.
He’s been regularly linked with Real throughout the years, but a summer exit in 2022 will become likely if Henderson certifies his starting spot next season.
De Gea knows he has a fight on his hands to retain Solskjaer’s trust.
The 30-year-old, capped 45 times by his country, returned to training early to prepare for United’s opening league fixture.
They face Leeds United on Saturday 14th August at home.
De Gea and Henderson will both be vying for starts in the pre-season friendlies before that game.
United take on newly-promoted Brentford, Preston North End and Everton in the next few weeks.
De Gea received criticism in May after he missed the decisive penalty in United’s Europa League final defeat to Villarreal.
Henderson is the more successful penalty saver of the two but was kept on the bench for the shootout.
Speaking about the selection, club legend Paul Scholes said: “You have to say… David… we spoke about his record before it, he didn’t look like saving a penalty. They [United] got a little bit lucky with Luke Shaw’s penalty as well.”
