Man Utd coach says it would be ‘a crime’ to lose player ‘critics hit the roof’ over

Robin Bairner

• 9 Jun 2023 09:44 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester United coach Benni McCarthy has claimed that it would be “a crime” if the Red Devils were to allow David de Gea to leave the club.

De Gea is out of contract at the end of June and though he is expected to sign a new deal with the club, manager Erik ten Hag has revealed that the former Atletico Madrid goalkeeper should expect renewed competition for the No.1 spot next season.

Following the FA Cup final loss against Manchester City, speculation stepped up that the Red Devils may not even extend his deal, but McCarthy appears to have ended speculation over the 32-year-old with some strong words while speaking to 947 JoBurg.

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“It would be a crime if Man Utd lose a goalkeeper like David de Gea,” the coach explained.

“He kept 17 clean sheets in the league. Yes, of course you're going to concede but to win the Golden Glove for yet another season is remarkable.

“You see how difficult the league is. I understand everyone has a bad game here and there, but it doesn't stop him being one of the best goalkeepers I have seen or worked with. He is unbelievable.

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“I get to see first hand more than what most people get to see. You see it only on a Saturday, you see a player make a mistake and the critics hit the roof.

“But I get to spend every single day with him and he is an unbelievable guy, a great lad, very intelligent and one of the best goalkeepers I have seen.”

Who could replace De Gea?

Manager Erik ten Hag seems unwilling to spend big on a new No.1 this summer and has targeted Anderlecht’s Bart Verbruggen as a player who could come in and offer De Gea genuine competition.

The 20-year-old Dutchman has played regularly for Anderlecht since the World Cup and kept eight clean sheets in 17 Jupiler Pro League matches for a side that had a disappointing campaign.

Verbruggen, who has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of just €2.3 million, would arrive primarily as a prospect with the aim of pushing De Gea in the months ahead.