Manchester United: Why David De Gea Is Better off Staying at Old Trafford

Manchester United supporters have seen this narrative before.

Their team signs a young talent, he develops into a world-class superstar over the course of his United career, then he is attracted by the bright lights of Real Madrid to move to the Bernabeu.

Six years ago, it was Cristiano Ronaldo, and now it may turn out to be the case for David De Gea.

With United's goalkeeper allegedly on the brink of signing, as reported by the Sun (via Telegraph Sport), one simple, yet crucial question must be answered: Is it really worth it?

Whatever your opinion is, it's important to understand the attractiveness of Real Madrid to De Gea.

Madrid, like Manchester United, is a massive club and brand with an extremely successful pedigree. Most elite players would jump at the chance to join Los Blancos or at least hold the club in extremely high regard.

Simply put, the best players want to play at the best clubs, and Real Madrid were certainly a better team than United this season.

But for De Gea, it goes deeper than that.

As a native of Madrid, it would be something extremely significant to win trophies for Real. Something must also be said of the comfort level he would experience in Madrid from an off-the-pitch standpoint, as his girlfriend and family both reside in the Spanish capital.

Although he's "very happy" at United, as Adam Crafton of the Daily Mail told republikofmancunia.com, there is a different sort of connection and pride he'd feel if he brought trophies to Madrid. On the surface, it may seem he is simply moving because Real is a better team, but his humble and quiet nature makes one find legitimacy in his alleged desire to be with his loved ones and also achieve what seems like a childhood dream.

Additionally, and just as important, is the fact that De Gea obviously wants to become Spain's No. 1 goalkeeper fairly soon. While this wouldn't be an unattainable goal from England, it would likely help to be playing as a marquee La Liga player, according to Crafton:

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De Gea is 24-years-old, close to securing the number 1 jersey for the Spanish national team and he could feasibly be Madrid’s first-choice stopper for the next decade. The thought must cross his mind that more trophies could be won in the Spanish capital, that he could achieve legendary status in his homeland. In Spain, many feel that there is an obligation for the first choice goalkeeper of the national team to play for Real Madrid or Barcelona.

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While United supporters would hate to see the Spaniard go, it would be unsurprising and ultimately understandable for him to move back home.

But it could also be a massive mistake.

While there haven't been any reports suggesting that Carlo Ancelotti's firing has had an effect on De Gea's decision, the 24-year-old should think long and hard about joining a team that just sacked one of the greatest and most accomplished managers in the world just a year after he won them La Decima.

Paul White/Associated Press

If De Gea performs up to his ability, he will become a Madrid legend, but if he slips up, even once or twice, Madrid supporters will be calling for his head.

De Gea, who has been far and away United's best performer this season, would be exiting the safe nest of Old Trafford for the cauldron of the Bernabeu. Madridistas are truly the most volatile fans in the world, and their fickleness combined with the head-scratching and hasty decision-making of club president Florentino Perez provide the ingredients for a disaster if De Gea has so much as even an "adjustment period" at the club.

Among the confusing decisions that Perez makes are those relating to his Galacticos policy to assemble the most glamorous group of footballers—no, stars—possible. Angel Di Maria was sold after an incredible season for apparently being "too ugly," according to Regio7 (via Sky Sports), and Xabi Alonso was sold to Bayern Munich for an inexplicably low fee of £7.1 million, per Transfermarkt.

Aside from leaving a poor taste in people's mouths, this policy leads to an extremely lopsided team that would certainly not be to the benefit of De Gea. With Perez purchasing Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez after the World Cup, Ancelotti was often forced to play a midfield three of all attacking midfielders. Unsurprisingly, Madrid were hurt by this at times, as teams such as Juventus exposed the defensive deficiencies of Isco and Rodriguez. 

With a physically weak midfield and a marauding full-back in Marcelo, De Gea would often find himself with weak defensive protection from his team-mates. For all of United's flaws this season, players like Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini are far more capable than De Gea's potential midfield team-mates at breaking up play.

La Liga is far weaker than the EPL in the bottom half of the table, and the fact that Real Madrid still conceded 38 goals may indicate that De Gea could be put in a position to fail and become a scapegoat early on if his team is conceding too many goals.

Finally, while De Gea's decision isn't solely based on trophies, it certainly is a factor, and he may actually be better off staying in Manchester if he wants to win silverware. With all of Cristiano Ronaldo's individual success at Madrid, his relatively poor trophy-winning record becomes conveniently forgotten. In his six seasons at the club, he has won the league just once and has taken home just one Champions League winner's medal. 

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

If De Gea did join Madrid, his prospects of radically changing Madrid's trophy haul would appear to be extremely difficult. Rafael Benitez, tipped to become the next Los Blancos manager, per BBC Sport, would be Madrid's weakest manager in a while, widely believed to be an inferior manager to Ancelotti, who couldn't manage to win any trophies this season.

In addition, Barcelona's front three of Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez are perhaps the greatest of all time and already have the look of a dynasty after one season together. De Gea can play as well as anyone in net for Madrid, but he can't stop those three from running rampant on La Liga.

Contrarily, United play in a league without a Barcelona-type juggernaut. Chelsea are a very good team, but if Luke Shaw and Michael Carrick can stay healthy, Chris Smalling and Ander Herrera continue to make strides, and Memphis Depay turns out to be the real deal, then it seems United could end up firmly in the title conversation. Ironically, Madrid have a superior roster of players, yet De Gea may actually see more domestic success at United.

Ultimately, the allure of the Bernabeu is strong. But past that allure is an incompetent and destructive team president, the most volatile fans in world football and a stark possibility that Barcelona, not Madrid, rule La Liga for the next half decade.

Choose wisely, Dave.

Stats and info via ESPNFC.