Manchester United got back to winning ways on Saturday with a hard fought victory over QPR at Loftus Road.
Second half goals from substitutes Marouane Fellaini and James Wilson proved decisive and temporarily took Louis van Gaal’s side back up to third place until Southampton recorded a 2-1 win over Newcastle United later in the evening.
Whilst it was hardly a vintage Manchester United display, the three points were welcome considering the way in which they lost at home to the Saints last time out whilst David De Gea also secured his seventh clean sheet of the season.
The Spaniard has perhaps been United’s best player this season, ironic when you consider almost £200 million has been spent on mainly attacking players in the last 12 months.
The performances of the 23-year-old has seen him described as the best young goalkeeper in Europe with speculation of a move to Real Madrid seemingly growing louder by the week.
With that in mind, we have identified five reasons why this could well prove to be De Gea’s last season at Old Trafford.
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Click on David De Gea to reveal 5 reasons why this is his last season at Manchester United.
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Few turn down Real Madrid
Let’s face it, unless your name is Steven Gerrard – very few players ever turn down the lure of Real Madrid. Manchester United fans have experienced this first hand with Cristiano Ronaldo whilst Tottenham found it impossible to hang onto Gareth Bale once the Spanish giants came calling.
Experience down the years has taught us that if Real Madrid set their sights on someone, nine times out ten it means they are going to get their man.
Based on that theory, De Gea will be gone by the end of the season as Carlo Ancelotti has identified him as a top target according to widespread reports.
Valdes is not the sort to stay on the bench
Whilst Manchester United have insisted the recent free signing of Victor Valdes does not have any baring on De Gea’s future, we simply aren’t buying it.
Valdes is a goalkeeper who has won all there is to win in Spain and will surely not be content with sitting on the bench more often than not for the remainder of his glittering career.
You can’t help but feel the signing of the 32-year-old was made with the thought in mind that De Gea won’t be sticking around much longer than May.
van Gaal is not one to make a fuss
van Gaal may have only been in England a little over six months but already we are under the assumption he is not the sort of manager to beg a player to stay.
The Dutchman has mentioned his ‘philosophy’ on countless occasions since his arrival at Old Trafford, which centre’s very much around the ethic of being a team.
No one player is more important than the team or indeed the club in van Gaal’s eyes and if De Gea says he wants to go, he is not going to let an unhappy player stick around at Old Trafford for too long.
Financial Fair Play and all that…
The laws of Financial Fair Play introduced by FIFA are hardly straightforward with Jose Mourinho seemingly being the only man in football who understands them inside out.
But we are of the opinion that the fact Manchester United have almost spent £200 million since last January and recouped very little cannot be a good way to adhere to the new rules.
De Gea could well demand a fee of as much as £30 million given his new reputation as one of the best goalkeepers in the world – a sum that could go some way to balancing some of the books at Old Trafford.
Perhaps he fancies an easier time of it…
Ultimately the decision will come down to De Gea himself. Being from Madrid, you can’t help but consider this to be a massive factor. Still only 23, the young goalkeeper may relish the opportunity to return home to his friends and family whilst it is hard to argue against Real Madrid being the biggest club in world football.
The goalkeeping gig at the Bernabeu is perhaps one of the best jobs going in football given most weeks you get to sit back and watch R0naldo and co tormenting the opposition!
Given that De Gea has been kept pretty busy over the past 18 months and carried United through many below par performances, he may simply decide he fancies an easier life come May.
