David de Gea remains in talks over a potential new contract at Man United but a summer exit is looking increasingly likely.

David de Gea was the first player to emerge from the dressing room after Manchester United’s draw against Newcastle in October.

A delighted De Gea spoke to MUTV after the final whistle and he couldn’t wipe the smile from his face as he attempted to put into words what making his 500th appearance for the club meant, an achievement which took over 11 years to reach.

David de Gea could leave this summer. (Image: 2023 Allstar)

De Gea had just become only the 11th player in the history of United to reach the milestone and said: “I think it’s something crazy. To play 500 games for this club is very special for me, of course, but probably I will realise more when I stop playing football.

“When I retire and then look back and say ‘OK, I played more than 500 games for a massive club like United’. I’m super proud and it’s amazing, to be honest. Just to be part of this club is massive and it’s so difficult to get here, so it’s a dream to be here.”

De Gea certainly earned a glass of wine that night, joining the likes of Denis Irwin, Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville, Sir Bobby Charlton Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs among the list of players who have made 500 appearances for the club.

When the Spaniard arrived in Manchester from Atletico Madrid for £18.9million in 2011, many believed he did not have the attributes to succeed in the Premier League and yet, that fee has proven to be superb value for money.

De Gea has been an excellent servant to Manchester United and he was the best goalkeeper in the world for at least three years, something which only a few people, regardless of their profession or industry, can say sincerely.

The elephant in the room is every good thing must eventually come to an end and that’s now the case with De Gea, who looks increasingly likely to have played his last game for the club, with terms of an extension still not agreed upon.

De Gea’s contract expires at the end of the month and although an extension of his deal on reduced terms was thought to be imminent, it’s now understood the situation is not currently as positive as it was previously.

Erik ten Hag has always defended the 32-year-old during his first season in charge, but some of his goalkeeping became indefensible in the latter stage of the campaign and that has led to questions about where his future lies.

It’s been a quirky season for De Gea. The stopper made some wonderful, game-deciding saves and kept the most clean sheets in the league, but his weakness with the ball at his feet and costly blunders have been impossible to excuse.

His embarrassing performance against Sevilla was ominous and mistakes against West Ham and Manchester City in the FA Cup final followed, with each of those appearances increasing doubts about his suitability for the rebuild.

De Gea’s kicking is so poor that he was ostracised from Spain’s national team long ago. He lacks authority, he cannot play it out from the back, he invites the opposition to press and he’s markedly fallen behind his peers in key departments.

He made four errors leading to a goal this term and that was the joint-most with Hugo Lloris in the Premier League. Lloris is another goalkeeper who has succumbed to decline and Tottenham are replacing him this summer.

The decision to give De Gea, a goalkeeper who is stuck in the past, an extension was non-sensical and if he’s made his last appearance for the club, that will ultimately improve the team’s prospects next season.

It’s undoubtedly the right decision to move on from De Gea, but the goalkeeper can still leave the club with his head high on the back of an overwhelmingly positive season for the team, in which a trophy was won and progress was made.

Ten Hag has made a tremendous start to his rebuild and the reality is De Gea signing an extension would have placed a ceiling on what could be achieved. He’s not the goalkeeper to take the club forward but he’ll still be remembered as a genuine great.

To have made 500 appearances for United is a remarkable achievement and his name will always be in the history books.

It shouldn’t be forgotten De Gea has been an outstanding servant and if leaving this summer, he’ll leave behind a special legacy.

Source: manchestereveningnews