David de Gea, the former Manchester United goalkeeper, was reportedly open to rejoining the club if certain conditions were met. Specifically, he would have considered returning if manager Erik ten Hag and then-football director John Murtough were no longer with the club.
De Gea, a prominent figure at United and in the Premier League, had a long tenure at Old Trafford, making 545 appearances over 12 years. However, he left the club at the end of the 2022/23 season after his contract expired.
De Gea was reportedly disappointed with how his departure was handled, feeling that he did not receive the proper recognition or send-off he deserved. His discontent was partly due to the unclear direction of his future at the club while the season was still ongoing.
According to sources, De Gea expressed his willingness to return to Manchester United if there were significant changes in the club’s leadership, particularly concerning Ten Hag and Murtough.
As of now, Ten Hag is set to continue as manager for a third season, and John Murtough has been replaced by Dan Ashworth from Newcastle United.
This leadership shake-up also included the departure of chief executive Richard Arnold, with Omar Berrada stepping in, and the addition of Jason Wilcox as technical director and Christopher Vivell as the new director of global talent.
Despite these changes, De Gea is unlikely to return to Manchester United. He has been training regularly with a goalkeeping coach recommended by Richard Hartis, who recently left his role as United’s goalkeeping coach. De Gea hinted at a forthcoming announcement regarding his next club with a cryptic hourglass emoji on social media.
He has several options, including offers from clubs in Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Italy. While he has expressed interest in joining a team on the West Coast of the United States, there remains a possibility that he will continue his career in Europe.
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