Despite Louis van Gaal continuing to reiterate that David De Gea is not for sale, the rumours keep flying, the latest being that there’s a part trade deal on the table.
Reportedly, the negotiations between Real and United have escalated to the offer being David De Gea for Navas and £22 million. Keylor Navas is currently Madrid’s first choice keeper and has been given the number 1 jersey.
Navas impressed the world in the Brazil World Cup 2014. He helped take the massive underdogs, Costa Rica, to the World Cup Quarterfinals. Only to be knocked out on penalties by Louis van Gaal’s Netherlands team.
Ed Woodward and van Gaal have definitely been playing hard ball with Real and it’s about time. Too often have United sold their stars to the Spanish giants for relatively low fees, whilst getting very little coming the other way.
An example of Madrid raiding United is with the signing of Ruud van Nistelrroy. The Dutch super striker was worth roughly £22 million at the time of his £10 million transfer. This was partially due to a dispute Ferguson had with Ruud over an incident with Ronaldo but United were still massively undercut.
Another occasion being when Real took Cristiano Ronaldo away from Old Trafford. He was sold for a reported £80 million, which seems like a lot but, considering that he was, and still is (on and off) the best player in the world this is a very low fee, especially considering the £85.3 million fee paid by Los Blancos for Gareth Bale, who is very far off from having Ronaldo’s ability.
In the last 10 years, United have only received Di Maria from the Spanish side, and to acquire him the Red Devils had to break a UK transfer fee record. It’s great that United are standing up to Real Madrid with this attempted transfer.
Asides from this, losing David De Gea may not be the worst thing for United. Sergio Romero, who’s been standing in for the Spaniard, ha performed fantastically. The only goal he’s conceded was a bizarre own goal from Carrick, of which no keeper could do anything about.
De Gea for Navas would not be a good deal for Manchester United. If it went through, United would still have a massive surplus of keepers, if you add Valdes, Lindegaard, Romero and talented youngster Sam Johnstone into the equation.
However David De Gea has been the winning difference in the big matches over the last few years. He’s certainly won United more points than he’s cost.
