Man Utd coach claims ‘it’d be a crime’ if club lose ‘unbelievable’ player after lucrative offer is lodged

Lewis Oldham 08 Jun 2023 7:00 AM

Man Utd coach Benni McCarthy thinks it “would be a crime” if the Premier League giants let David Dea Gea leave the club this summer.

Around a month ago, it was reported that De Gea – who is out of contract in a couple of weeks – has ‘agreed a new deal’.

But this supposed new contract is yet to be announced. United had the option to automatically extend De Gea’s contract on the same terms until 2024 but they have instead pushed him to agree to a pay cut.

De Gea has been criticised at several points over the past year, but Erik ten Hag has continued to show faith in the Spaniard.

The 32-year-old has recently received a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia and it has been indicated that United are considering Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa as his potential long-term successor.

READ: The 10 biggest transfers in Europe in the 2023 summer transfer window

But McCarthy – who became United’s first-team coach last summer – thinks the Red Devils would be foolish to let De Gea leave this summer.

“He kept 17 clean sheets in the league. Yes, of course, you’re going to concede, but to win the Golden Glove for yet another season is remarkable,” McCarthy told 947 Joburg.

“You see how difficult the league is so I understand that everyone has a bad game here and there, but it doesn’t stop him from being one of the best goalkeepers I’ve seen and I’ve worked with. He is unbelievable.

“I work with him every single day and I get to see first-hand more than what most people get to do. You only see him on a Saturday or on a matchday, and if you see him make a mistake the critics hit the roof.

“But I get to spend every single day with him and he is an unbelievable guy, a great lad, very intelligent and one of the best goalkeepers I have seen. It would be a crime if Man United lose a goalkeeper like David de Gea.”

Speaking last month, Ten Hag conceded that De Gea may not “always” be his number-one goalkeeper.

“If you observe the biggest teams, you have to be capable of playing from the back, and use your ’keeper as a plus one in your back, otherwise it’s very simple for opponents to put you under pressure. He [De Gea] had to step up. In a number of games, he showed progression.”

When asked if De Gea will be at Man Utd next season, he continued: “Yes, but I will not say he’ll always be my No 1 because, in a club like Man United, there must be competition in all positions.

“You can’t do it with 11 players. It is impossible. You need double positions.”

Manchester United Benni Mccarthy