Pundit tips Rangnick to ‘end’ Man Utd star’s Old Trafford career

Joe Williams
Man Utd goalkeeper David de Gea complains to the referee

David de Gea’s career at Man Utd is “probably going to end quite shortly” with the appointment of Ralf Rangnick at Old Trafford, according to Trevor Sinclair.

The German was unveiled earlier on Friday as the Red Devils’ new interim boss after Michael Carrick took charge of his last match as caretaker boss last night in a 3-2 win over Arsenal.

And former West Ham winger Sinclair reckons De Gea could be one of the first out of the team under Rangnick with the new boss favouring a “sweeper keeper”.


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De Gea was criticised yesterday for not trying to save the Gunners’ opener with Emile Smith Rowe slotting the ball into the net as the Spain international lay on the ground.

Replays showed his own team-mate Fred accidentally injured him but Sinclair reckons De Gea should’ve waited for the ball to go out of play before attempting to receive medical treatment.

“They got it right,” Sinclair told talkSPORT. “We’ve all been smashed in the ankle, it’s not going to get any worse. You can get back to your feet, wait for the ball to go out of play, then get the assistance you need medically.

“I can’t believe how lacking in bravery De Gea is. I’m really disappointed, his teammates will be disappointed, the coaching staff and all the fans will be disappointed.

“Sometimes when you go on the pitch, you’ve got to take a bit of pain – and that wasn’t good enough. And he’s cost his team a goal because the shot from Smith Rowe wasn’t great.”

Sinclair added: “With Ralf [Rangnick] coming in, wanting to play a high line, I think he’s going to have to be sweeper keeper.

“So De Gea’s time at Man United is probably going to end quite shortly.”

He continued: “For me, that’s a little acid test, how big’s your heart? And he’s let them down.”

And former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer also thought the Man Utd goalkeeper made a meal of the injury as he was back up “a minute later”.

Shearer said on Amazon Prime Video: “I didn’t see or hear the referee blow, and I didn’t see a serious foul on the goalkeeper, and it’s only when you see it closely that his own player actually stands on him.

“I don’t think I’m being too harsh here, but I don’t think the game’s changed that much – I think that happens in every game, someone standing on your foot and ankle.

“With him going down like that, not a care to where the ball is, yes they hurt but I’m not sure he should be staying down like that.

“He’s up a minute later on his feet anyway, so it couldn’t have hurt that much.”