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Manchester United Transfer News: Latest David De Gea, Mattia Destro Rumours
March 11, 2016
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has "put the brakes on" a summer move for Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea following reports the Spanish giants will offer Keylor Navas a bump in salary. Plus, Bologna's Mattia Destro is open to an Old Trafford reunion with Jose Mourinho.
Spanish radio station Cadena COPE reported in their El Partido de las 12 show that Zidane has been so impressed with Navas' performances that the club are preparing to improve his wages at the Santiago Bernabeu (h/t Spanish daily Sport).
The Costa Rica No. 1's current deal in the Spanish capital runs until 2020, and while those terms aren't set to change, Zidane seemingly sees it as unfair Navas is currently "one of the lowest-paid members of the first team."
Real Madrid played their part in a summer-long transfer saga with Manchester United that almost saw De Gea move back to his native Madrid in an 11th-hour deal, only for it to come undone after paperwork was filed past the deadline.
Football Leaks recently divulged the information that De Gea's contract with Los Merengues would have been worth £64 million, including an annual salary of £9.2 million and an £8.5 million signing-on fee (h/t the Irish Independent's Richard Martin).
De Gea once again demonstrated his importance to the Red Devils' cause during Thursday's 2-0 UEFA Europa League defeat to Liverpool. After the first-leg result, the Times' James Ducker pondered how United would be getting on this season had they actually sold De Gea in 2015:
Former Atletico Madrid stopper De Gea may still be a sought-after talent at the Bernabeu, but the displays of incumbent stopper Navas seem to be convincing the hierarchy no new investment is needed between the posts.
Having Zidane in his corner is beneficial for the Real Madrid man, and Manchester United fans will also assuredly rejoice in the news Los Blancos may not revive their attempts to lure De Gea back to La Liga.
On the inbound list, former Inter academy player Destro has spoken positively about the possibility of linking up with Mourinho in England this summer, with the Portuguese reportedly a managerial target for the Red Devils.
Destro was in the latter years of his development at Inter while Mourinho managed the first team between 2008 and 2010.
When asked by Sky Sport Italia what he'd say if the axed Chelsea boss were to phone him, the striker said (h/t Daily Star's Rhys Turrell): “I’d like to find myself in that situation and at that point we’d see. Being able to train with champions and a coach like Mourinho really makes you mature and helps prepare you for the big step up to real football.”
BT Sport's Matt Smith confirmed Mourinho will make a much-anticipated return to management this summer:
The former Blues chief has been touted as being among the favourites to replace Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal should the Dutchman take his leave of Old Trafford this summer.
Destro, 24, has scored eight goals in 26 outings for Bologna after struggling for consistency with Roma and Milan in recent years, and Mourinho is sure to have a firm understanding of his talents from their time at the San Siro.