David De Gea could RETIRE after repeated snubs

Stuart Telford

• 22 Sept 2023 15:50 BST
• 3 min read

David de Gea could hang up his gloves with offers from major European clubs not forthcoming for the former Manchester United goalkeeper.

De Gea left Man Utd on a free transfer this summer with Erik ten Hag determined to replace him as the club's No.1 with Andre Onana, who was signed from Inter Milan for €52.5 million.

De Gea had been offered an extension, but on reduced terms from his £375,000-a-week salary, and it was clear he was going to be second choice at best going forward at Old Trafford.

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There were reports that the former Spain shot-stopper would follow Cristiano Ronaldo to the Saudi Pro League, but it is understood he would rather compete for honours in Europe - and if that isn’t possible, retirement could be on the horizon instead.

'Money not a prime motivator' for De Gea

"David de Gea may retire if he does not receive an offer to be the first-choice goalkeeper at a major club," reports The Guardian's Jamie Jackson. "The former Manchester United and Spain No.1 has rejected several approaches… with money not a prime motivator."

As well as Ronaldo's Al-Nassr, European giants Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and De Gea's former club Atletico Madrid were also credited with an interest in his services earlier in the summer.

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But Manuel Neuer was always going to be reinstalled as Bayern No.1 after returning from a broken leg, while PSG and Atletico have formidable first choices of their own in Gigio Donnarumma and Jan Oblak.

De Gea kept 17 clean sheets for United last season, winning the Premier League's Golden Glove award for the second time.

He is still valued at €10.1m by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, having had a highest ETV of €56.1m in 2016, five years on from his €25m arrival from Atletico.