Real Madrid target David De Gea has every reason to leave Man United - but won't

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  • David De Gea (l) was in imperious form for Manchester United at Sevilla.

    Decision-making does not appear to be something that troubles David De Gea.

    His peerless twinning of body and mind was on show yet again on Wednesday night when Manchester United set-up defensively, but played porously, at Sevilla in the Champions League’s round of 16.

    His eight saves was the most recorded in the competition by a Red Devils goalkeeper since Edwin van der Sar was pummelled by Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and co. in 2010/11’s one-sided final. The reaction time on his stupendous denial of Luis Muriel’s bulleted header was almost superhuman.

    It is within the prism of the nervy goalless draw at La Liga’s fifth-placed side that a report from The Times about an imminent contract renewal at Old Trafford seem perplexing.

    Why is the world’s best shot stopper prepared to commit even more time to a side well short of domestic or continental dominance? Especially when the alternative is a long-mooted move home to Real Madrid, current holders of the Club World Cup, Spanish top flight and European football’s grandest club prize.

    UNPICKING HIS DRIVES IS NO EASY TASK

    Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in the wake of 2012/13’s Premier League victory, United’s average finishing position in the Premier League is sixth. The midweek clash at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium was the club’s first knockout match in the Champions League in four years.

    De Gea has won one FA Cup, one Europa League and one League Cup after his acrimonious collapsed move to Madrid in August 2015. Their inferior Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas has claimed one La Liga, one Supercopa de Espana, two Champions Leagues, one UEFA Super Cup – against United – and two Club World Cups since then.

    Even accounting for Los Blancos’ implosion in 2017/18, you’d still back them to have greater access to the game’s grandest trophies moving ahead.

    It is not only sport which ties De Gea to the Spanish capital. The family of the man signed for £18.9 million (Dh111.3m) from Atletico Madrid in June 2011 still reside there, as does fiancee Edurne Garcia Almagro.

    Beyond football, the cultural hub of Madrid also gets almost double the average sunlight hours of industrial Manchester. Life is better there.

    The case for staying appears flimsier than the Phil Jones-Chris Smalling axis at centre-back.

    David De Gea (r) performed a miracle with his save from Luis Muriel.

    David De Gea (r) performed a miracle with his save from Luis Muriel.

    WHY IS HE WILLING TO PUT PEN TO PAPER?

    For all De Gea’s talent, goalkeeper is not a position historically valued by Madrid president Florentino Perez.

    Iker Casillas was never close to being their top earner, despite captaining club and country to enormous success. Huge wages are instead paid to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

    This summer’s enormous refit will witness princely sums paid to reputed targets such as Tottenham striker Harry Kane, Paris Saint-Germain attacker Neymar or whoever else Los Blancos turn their attention to.

    Yet, the pot of money no longer appears as limitless as it did in the ‘Galacticos’ days.

    UEFA’s annual financial report released last month evidenced United’s 32-per-cent growth in revenue which has propelled them ahead of Madrid and Barca to top the list at £611m (D3.1 billion). This trend is only moving in one direction thanks to the broadcast deals signed by the Premier League that make PSG the only side capable of matching the Manchester clubs in terms of pure spending power.

    De Gea’s agent Jorge Mendes will know he can demand, at least, parity with United’s new top earner Alexis Sanchez at £350,000 per week (Dh1.8m) plus bonuses and image rights – and deserve it.

    Madrid were blown out of the water last summer by PSG for emerging forward Kylian Mbappe and by United a year prior for France midfielder Paul Pogba.

    With Madrid poised to buy at least one big star for the first time since 2014, their priorities lie elsewhere. No longer the apex predator, resources need to be better managed.

    This is why Belgium No1 Thibaut Courtois’ reluctance, thus far, to ink fresh terms on a deal set to expire in June 2019 at Chelsea will have gained their attention. As is the ex-Atleti loanee’s publicised desire to be reunited with his two children in Madrid.

    Dwindling contracts equal less money.

    Beyond monetary concerns, De Gea’s personal investment in United is substantial. He’s already been at the club longer than Ronaldo and no matter the current negativity, success appears closer under fellow Mendes client Jose Mourinho.

    Another summer spend near £200m (Dh1bn) will be invested by the Premier League’s second-placed side.

    Beyond the current Pogba furore, proven-winner Mourinho remains popular within the United dressing room.

    The Red Devils also showed unmatched patience with him throughout the struggles of his error-prone early days.

    With Madrid no longer the golden ticket, this historical stance is being met by present-day loyalty.

    ‘Dave saves’ has turned into ‘Dave stays’.

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