United sweat as De Gea weighs up Real move
CHRIS WHEELER DAVID DE GEA may have played his last game for Manchester United, who fear the Spanish keeper is unable to resist the temptation to go home to Real Madrid.
De Gea, pictured, limped out of Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Arsenal at Old Trafford with a hamstring injury and is set to miss United’s final game of the season at Hull on Sunday.
Manager Louis van Gaal admitted that the opportunity to return to Madrid, where his girlfriend Edurne Garcia and family are based, may be too much for De Gea to turn down – despite the offer of a new contract at United worth up to £200 000 (about R3,7 million) a week.
Van Gaal said: “I analyse his position and then I say he is Spanish, he is a Spanish international, still behind Iker Casillas, now a Spanish club is coming, his girlfriend is Spanish, his father and mother come here every week or every two weeks so it is diffi- cult. He shall not leave us so easily because we have a great club. But he can go to another great club and that is for him to decide.
“We have given a fantastic contract because we want him to stay. I think he has had a fantastic season.”
United will demand in excess of £25-million to sell De Gea, even though he only has one year left on his contract. The 24-year-old had been everpresent in the team during Van Gaal’s first season until he was replaced by Victor Valdes yesterday.
The fans roared their support for De Gea and Van Gaal warned the former Atletico Madrid keeper to think hard before walking away.
He added: “I don’t think I can persuade him because he knows everything that he has at the moment in Manchester United. I don’t have to say something in benefit of Manchester United because he can feel it every day. You have seen the fans — unbelievable. When he is going, he is losing that. Here he has a lot of credits. He has to decide.”
Another United player who appears to be on his way is Radamel Falcao, whose waves to the crowd when he was substituted for Robin van Persie yesterday suggested a farewell appearance at Old Trafford.
United are unlikely to consider turning the Colombian’s loan from Monaco into a permanent transfer, unless the financial terms of the deal can be radically changed. Falcao has scored only four goals in 29 games.
However, Van Gaal refused to be drawn on the matter, saying: “You know how the situation is with Falcao. At the end of the season we will decide.”
Ander Herrera fired a dominant United in front but Arsenal rallied after the break and De Gea’s replacement Valdes was beaten late on when substitute Tyler Blackett turned Theo Walcott’s cross into his own net. The result means that Arsenal can clinch third place in the Premier League by winning their game in hand at home to Sunderland tomorrow, consigning United to the Champions League play-off round.
Van Gaal said: “It’s always stressful because you might have to play a team who is halfway into the season already and we have just started”. Arsene Wenger knows a point should be enough against Sunderland because of Arsenal’s superior goal difference.”It takes the pressure off during the holidays and pre-season,” he said. – Daily Mail