David De Gea Weighing Choice Between Manchester United and Real Madrid
There is a very good chance that David de Gea will start next season in the colours of Real Madrid, but claims that his return to Spain is a done deal are way off the mark.
What is certain is that the time for the goalkeeper to decide just where he wants to play his football is rapidly approaching, and he does not want the matter dragging into next season without a decision, one way or the other.
The fact is that the one person not yet sure where he will be going is the player himself.
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On the one hand, his entourage and family would like him to return to Spain. His father’s Dennis Bergkamp-like fear of flying means that every time he wants to see his son play, he has to get the car out of the garage. In addition, De Gea's partner, the pop singer Edurne Garcia, would certainly prefer life in the Spanish capital.
Claims that he would not want to join Real Madrid because of an emotional attachment to city rivals Atletico, where he learned his trade, are erroneous. De Gea is very grateful to both Atletico and also to Manchester United, and in particular Sir Alex Ferguson, for what they have done for him but realises that what he must focus on, first and foremost, is his own career.
From a footballing point of view, the chance of joining Los Blancos might be a chance too good to pass by, and while in the past, the prospect of going head-to-head with club legend Iker Casillas for the No. 1 slot might well have intimidated him, that is not the case now.
Real Madrid certainly have their radar very much focused on De Gea to the extent that they have already passed on a number of other goalkeepers offered to them. It also seems likely they already have in place an agreement between themselves and Jorge Mendes, the player’s representative, but not with De Gea himself.
At the moment, at Manchester United, he is being paid on a deal that is linked with the number of games he plays, although the new offer on the table from United would see his salary increase between four- and fivefold.
The fact is De Gea would earn considerably less playing for Real, but that really isn’t the main issue for him.
In truth, he wants to sort it out now because if it drags on and it comes to a time close to where his contract will be finishing, people will start putting two and two together and making five. I repeat; money is not the issue here.
That said, there are some other issues, not least of which is the amount of the transfer fee, and while Real will ask Manchester United for a price, they will not be looking to pay more than €30 million. They might have to, though.
Over and above that, however, it is what is happening behind the scenes that will probably play the biggest part in De Gea’s final decision.
Not everything is great at the Carrington training ground, where manager Louis van Gaal’s constant changing and tinkering during training is driving many totally nuts. The chances are that Manchester United will be challenging for titles both nationally and in Europe, but the reality is that the working atmosphere at the moment isn’t great.
By the way, on the plus side, however, what is certain now is that while De Gea's future is still up in the air, Juan Mata will definitely be staying at Old Trafford.
Back in Madrid, the sands of time are running out for Casillas, whose treatment from some fans and the club alike after a stellar career spanning 24 of his 33 years has been nothing short of shabby.
Casillas was just nine when he joined the club, 16 when he made his debut for the first team in the Champions League against Rosenberg and just four days short of his 19th birthday when Real Madrid won the CL final against Valencia in 2000 with him between the sticks.
What they would now like him to do is pack his kit bag and walk out of the back door of the Santiago Bernabeu. Casillas isn’t about to do anything of the sort, unless, of course, the club pays him every last penny due from the two remaining years of his contract.
If they won’t, and he has to spend the twilight of his Real Madrid career warming the bench if and when De Gea or whoever arrives, then so be it.
