Spain goalkeeper David De Gea is still a football free agent following his departure from Manchester United in July.
He’s been a Premier League mainstay over the past 10 years, but De Gea could not agree terms to lengthen his stay at Old Trafford and so he is looking for a new home.
But it won’t be in Munich after FC Bayern ended their interest in the stopper and opted to move for Israel keeper Daniel Peretz instead.
The former Red Devil had previously hoped to move to Real Madrid, but that switch failed to materialise and, with the big European leagues already underway, De Gea’s people are still working on finding a club.
The La Roja star decided it was time for a change at the end of last season and, at 32 years of age, he is at the peak of his powers as a goalkeeper so there should be no shortage of suitors.
After moving from Atletico Madrid in a £18.9 million deal in 2011, De Gea was at Old Trafford for 12 years, making 545 appearances and recording 190 clean sheets which are both records for the Premier League giants.
But contract negotiations broke down at the end of last season and Manchester United were prepared to make a change. De Gea’s successor at Old Trafford, Andre Onana, has already made the Football 2023 news with his strong opinions off the pitch and a brutal foul on Wolves striker Sasa Kalajdzic which went unpunished.
The three officials involved in that incident were dropped from the following week’s fixtures, but Onana collected his first clean sheet.
Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag has a big job at the club, and a number of chunky wages to move on. He may be ready to take losses on defender Harry Maguire who was bought for £80 million and winger Jadon Sancho who cost £73 million.
At less than £20 million, De Gea has been a brilliant servant for Manchester United, winning one Premier League title, one FA Cup, and one Europa League, and he owes the club nothing.
With 45 caps for Spain, De Gea’s international career is not yet over, and he will be a fine goalkeeper for someone.
Au Revoir to Sergio Ramos
Another of SBOTOP’s favourite Spaniards is on the move this summer as La Roja legend Sergio Ramos has said goodbye to Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.
The legendary centre- back has received offers from the US, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia, but he has said he wants to stay in Europe. It looked like he might be on his way to Turkish club Besiktas, but the club says his high wage demands were out of their range.
The 37-year-old has been at the Parc des Princes for two campaigns, but he is now in the group of huge names to leave alongside Lionel Messi, who is ripping it up in the MLS with Inter Miami, and Neymar, who has packed his bags for the Saudi Pro League.
It looks like Kylian Mbappe, who insisted he have more say at the club, may be the last big name player in Paris at this rate.
The Football 2023 betting odds say PSG will win yet another title even after these high-profile departures.
Ramos is one of the greatest centre-backs of all time with brilliant tackling skills, dominant aerial ability, and he is a natural born leader.
In his 16 seasons at Real Madrid, he won 22 major awards, including four Champions League titles and five La Liga titles and, with over 100 career goals to his name, he is one of the most high-scoring defenders in the history of the game.
Handanovic leaves Inter Milan
Champions League finalists Inter Milan have had a change in personnel in the last line of defence with the departure of Onana to Manchester United and the contract expiry of long-term stopper Samir Handanovic.
I Nerazzurri announced Handanovic’s departure in July and after he played a total of 455 games for the Milan club.
Now 39 years of age, Handanovic still has a couple of seasons in him at the top level, and he would be an excellent backup at any number of Champions League clubs.
He earned the nickname “Batman” due to his spectacular saves, and he is one of only four non Italians to be named Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year. Handanovic holds the record for the most penalty saves in Serie A, beating Gianluca Pagliuca’s tally of 24.
Since his transfer from Udinese in 2012, Handanovic has become one of best keepers in domestic and international football, earning 81 caps for Slovenia, and he had a grip on the Nerazzurri number one shirt until 2022.
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