David De Gea Is Worse Option Than Sergio Romero for Man United, Says David James

Manchester United were relieved to end the summer transfer window with star goalkeeper David De Gea still among their ranks, but ex-England stopper David James believes Sergio Romero is the superior option.

Last season's Players' Player of the Year sat on the sidelines while summer signing Romero began the campaign in goal, and James likes what he's seen of the Argentina international, per Rob Dawson of the Manchester Evening News:

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When De Gea plays Manchester United do let in quite a few goals. Romero starts the season with three clean sheets. People were questioning why De Gea wasn’t playing, then he comes back and has one clean sheet.

I think he makes some wonderful saves. He’s very athletic. But I think, in the bigger picture of the goalkeeping art, he doesn’t help Manchester United as much as perhaps Romero can. It’s interesting that he didn’t go to Real Madrid, or was it that Madrid weren’t that eager on buying him? With Navas in goal for them, he’s having a stellar season so far.

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De Gea's protracted move to Real Madrid collapsed on September 1, after which De Gea was drafted back into Louis van Gaal's starting lineup and Romero took his spot on the bench, where he has since remained.

James represented United's bitter rivals Manchester City between 2004 and 2006, but there are sure to be many Red Devils fans who will find holes in the 45-year-old's logic.

Kamil Krzaczynski/Associated Press

It's true United's defensive record was superior under the guard of Romero compared to that of De Gea, keeping four clean sheets in their first five games of the season but managing just two clean sheets in their last six outings.

And Van Gaal hasn't been afraid to direct praise at his reserve stopper, commenting on Romero's quality in the wake of Manchester United's 3-2 win at Southampton, per Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News:

De Gea's 180-degree turn from Real Madrid was completed just over a week after the Spanish transfer deadline had passed, as the Spain No. 1 signed a new four-year deal at Old Trafford with the option of a further year.

Romero may yet come to play a major role with United, though, as Spanish football writer Sergi Dominguez has asserted De Gea still desires a return to his native Madrid and could move for a fee in the future:

Van Gaal will be glad to have two such talented bastions battling for the No. 1 jersey in his squad, and the Dutchman has an extensive knowledge of Romero's talents after working with the 28-year-old at AZ Alkmaar.

Some United supporters would outline their defence as the area that's really in need of address, but it seems unlikely the club would go through a summer's worth of transfer trauma just to drop De Gea now.