There has been another interesting twist in the Manchester United-David De Gea saga. Recent reports went out that the 24-year-old goalkeeper scrapped his plan to move to Real Madrid after his current contract expires at the end of the season and just sign a new deal to stay at the Old Trafford.
ESPN reported that De Gea suddenly "wants" a contract extension after the disappointment of his supposed to be transfer back to his hometown fell through on deadline day.
The Spaniard, who is presently in the last year of his contract with the Red Devils, allegedly planned to finish out a lost season to become a free agent and move to Madrid next year anyway. In that case, United will not earn anything from his departure as it would be a free transfer to Los Blancos.
However, it was speculated that De Gea may have been persuaded by United officials to sign an extension and then promised that he will be transferred to Real in January when the transfer window re-opens.
Bleacher Report noted that this latest development was indeed prompted by Man United to prevent "the goalkeeper from leaving on a free transfer next summer." In other words, if De Gea will have to go, then might as well make money from it in the process.
Meanwhile, Red Devils manager Louis van Gaal is adamant that he still has faith in De Gea and will restore his prized goalie back to his starting XI as soon as possible this season.
The 63-year-old Dutch coach had reportedly scheduled a series of one-on-one meetings between him and De Gea in order to patch things up between the two of them as he prepares him to go back in United's first team.