Manchester United legend David de Gea was unable to complete his long-awaited return to football, despite two clubs attempting to make a move for the free agent.
David de Gea has been a free agent since 2023 after his contract with Manchester United expired at the end of the 2023-24 Premier League campaign.
The 33-year-old Spaniard lifted the Premier League Golden Glove in his final season at Old Trafford and was believed to have been keen to extend his stay at United.
However, talks over a new United deal broke down last summer and De Gea’s illustrious run at Old Trafford came to an end after 12 seasons.
De Gea has waited on the sidelines after his departure from United and teased fans on social media with various training clips ahead of his potential return to football.
The former United No 1 has attracted interest from clubs around the world, including teams in England, Saudi Arabia, Italy and his native homeland of Spain.
De Gea’s failed move to one of two teams
David de Gea arrived at Manchester United from Atletico Madrid in 2011 and went on to lift a Premier League title under legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
The United legend was a mainstay at Old Trafford long after Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013 and enjoyed an illustrious spell at the Premier League club.
De Gea, who made 545 appearances for the Red Devils, captured a Europa League trophy, an FA Cup and two League Cups alongside his Premier League title win.
According to TEAMtalk, Serie A side Genoa had ‘held talks’ with De Gea and were keen to bring the former Spain international to Italy.
However, the publication added that Genoa’s move for De Gea was scuppered after they were unable to reach an agreement on personal terms with the player.
Fiorentina were another club that ‘approached’ De Gea a ‘few days ago’ and wanted to sign the free agent this summer.
However, the Serie A club reportedly felt that the United legend’s wage demands were ‘unacceptable’ while trying to reduce their own wage bill.
TEAMtalk reported that De Gea is looking for wages from £80,000 to £96,000 per week, which would be an annual salary of around £4.2m to £5m.
What is next for De Gea?
De Gea has been linked with clubs in his native homeland, but it is now believed that Spanish sides would be unwilling to meet his ‘high’ demands.
The former United star has attracted interest from the Saudi Pro League, with TEAMtalk claiming that Al Shabab are one club interested in De Gea.
The publication claimed an unnamed Saudi Arabia side and Al Shabab ‘began negotiations’ with De Gea a ‘few weeks ago.’
However, TEAMtalk added that ‘nothing is advanced’ at the current time between De Gea and the two aforementioned parties.
It is now believed that a move to Saudi Arabia is the ‘most likely outcome’ for the United legend, but even then he could be forced to ‘reduce his wage demands.’
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