It seems the story of the famous fax machine fiasco between Real Madrid and Manchester United is about to have yet another twist to its tale.
Real Madrid had come very close to securing the signature of Spanish stopper David De Gea in the summer of 2015. It involved a swap deal with Keylor Navas moving to Manchester United and David De Gea to Real Madrid. The goalkeeper, himself, had expressed his interest in completing a move to the Spanish capital and United it seemed had lost yet another superstar to Florentino Perez.
However, a late twist to the drama saw the move collapse in the eleventh hour and De Gea not only stayed at United for the time being but the Red Devil’s board managed to convince the Spaniard to a new four-year contract. Real moved away for the time being and stopped chasing De Gea.
After the end of this current season, De Gea will be entering his final twelve months at Manchester and it is now being reported that United are ready to offer their star man a new contract to keep him at the club longer than that.
De Gea’s current contract at Old Trafford runs till 2019 but Manchester United has a clause in that that would allow them to extend it by another year. Asked whether the Red Devils would look to exercise that option, the Portuguese boss was prompt with his answer. “It’s obvious that we’re not going to let the option [in De Gea’s contract] disappear,” he said.
“A goalkeeper like he is, and obviously a club that wants to be better and better and better, we are not going to let that year option go away. But obviously, we are going to try [to extend his contract]. Mr Woodward [Ed Woodward, the club’s executive vice chairman] is not on holiday. He barely has holidays. Of course, he’s going to try to give him a contract that keeps him here for much longer than that option that, of course, we are going to execute.”
Upon being asked if he had any role to play regarding solving the details of the new contract, the United manager ruled himself out of the running. “I don’t know. I just trust the board and the work they do. I don’t negotiate players; I don’t discuss numbers and contracts. I just say what is obvious. Anyone of you would say the same — David is to keep.”
David De Gea has been United’s saviour in goal for the last four seasons and he is arguably the best stoppers in the game right now alongside Manuel Neuer. Should De Gea agree to sign the new contract, United fans will have a lot to celebrate about.
