It’s sad it’s come to this, isn’t it?
When most of us first imagined David de Gea leaving Manchester United, we envisaged 75,000 singing his name at Old Trafford in fitting homage to his 12 years of service to our club.
Alas, sadly not.
It’s another tragic case of departure mismanagement from the United executives, who really should have afforded a stalwart so valuable a far better send off than he was given.
But first, let’s start at the beginning. Sir Alex Ferguson only ever missed three games whilst in charge of United throughout his 26-year tenure. One was for his son’s wedding, another for a family funeral. The third time, you ask? That would be to scout Atletico Madrid stopper David de Gea, and what a shrewd decision it proved.
‘Dave’ – as he was later colloquially known – signed for United on 29 June 2011 to replace the retiring Edwin van der Sar. Slightly built and initially timid looking, many – even amongst our own – doubted whether such a young talent could adapt to the English game. In the early months, the fears looked to be for good reason.
After a nightmare start despite victory against Manchester City in the Community Shield, the Spaniard embarked on a shaky run of form where opponents would successfully disturb him from set pieces and test his handling from distance to fluctuating results. After being bullied by Blackburn Rovers’ Grant Hanley in a 2-3 home reverse on New Year’s Eve 2011, many called for the Madrileño to be dislodged in favour of backup Anders Lindegaard. Thankfully, Ferguson stood by his number one and despite a trophyless campaign, De Gea ended it looking more like a goalkeeper befitting Manchester United.
That’s not to say the errors were eradicated completely. Even in the 2012/13 title season, a wayward punch in the North London snow allowed Clint Dempsey to salvage a point for Tottenham which threatened to let a beleaguered Manchester City back into the title race after succumbing to United at the Etihad a month previous.
However, stellar displays thereafter secured a richly deserved crown for United and the departing Ferguson, who had left United a diamond between the posts, even if not much else.
Perhaps the greatest thing that can be said for De Gea’s contribution across twelve years in Manchester is above all others, he has been the one to stand up in times of adversity. In no year was that more apparent than David Moyes’ ill-fated stint in 2013/14, where our stopper regularly stepped up to prevent United being marooned far below our eventual seventh place in the table. His stunning stop from Sunderland’s Emanuele Giaccherini set the stage for one of the all-time great United debuts from Adnan Januzaj and his genius thwarted Olympiakos at Old Trafford, when even a Robin van Persie hat-trick may not have been enough without his expertise. Even in home humblings to Liverpool and City, De Gea showed his class and willingness to stand up for the badge and not wilt as the walls seemed to crumble around him.
The arrival of Louis van Gaal saw no change to De Gea’s performances, as he scooped the second of three consecutive Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year awards (four in total). Liverpool had no answer to his reflexes at Old Trafford, but it was the other Liverpudlian side that was denied by arguably his greatest ever save. Preserving a slender lead in the dying embers against Everton, United’s number one flung himself behind a crowd of bodies to claw Bryan Oviedo’s strike into the Stretford End.
The course of Manchester United’s recent history would have changed dramatically if Real Madrid had a proper fax machine. Thank heavens they didn’t.
Spanish Dave returned from the Madrid debacle and re-cemented his place after a brief period of being dislodged by Sergio Romero. The next few seasons encapsulated so many memories for which United fans everywhere should be eternally grateful.
A Wembley penalty save. Heroics at Anfield twice. That save from Aguero at the Etihad. Fourteen saves at the Emirates. I could go on…
… and in fact I’m going to.
Defying the laws of physics at Southampton, and again at Selhurst Park. The stunning denial of Glenn Murray at Brighton. I could go on for hours, honestly.
A torrid World Cup in Russia saw Spanish Dave lose his way a little thereafter, despite flashes of magic every now and again. He’s still not entirely forgiven for punching that ball in Paris straight after Rashford’s penalty and nearly causing me to have a heart attack aged seventeen.
Eventually, the progressive nature of the game just seemed to slowly pass De Gea by, and towards the end he became somewhat of a liability when in possession, especially within ten Hag’s more expansive system.
It is right that he is being shown the door, as it is surely the right time. That said, why could Arnold and co not have sat down, thanked a magnificent servant for his contribution and wished him all the best? It didn’t have to be this way, and it’s truly gutting that a player of his calibre and historic importance was not given the adulation his performances over the years warranted.
Manchester hopes to see you again one day, David de Gea.
But for now, gracias y buena suerte, mi amigo.
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