Manchester United consider bringing David de Gea back to Old Trafford

Just days after the veteran goalkeeper posted an emotional message that sparked speculation among supporters, Manchester United have quietly made an approach to bring David de Gea back to Old Trafford.

De Gea, who made 545 appearances for United between 2011 and 2023, could return to the Red Devils after the club reportedly conducted a background check on his release clause with Fiorentina, which would have allowed him to leave for a relatively small fee.

According to The Sun, speculation about De Gea’s return intensified after he impressed in last week’s friendly between Fiorentina and Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Following the 1-1 draw, De Gea received an award from his former teammate Bruno Fernandes and posted a touching message on Instagram calling Old Trafford ‘home’ and signing off with the words ‘Our paths may cross again.’

United manager Ruben Amorim has yet to name a starting goalkeeper this season. He stated that all players must compete for a starting spot. “I’m not going to say who will be number one,” he said at a press conference ahead of the Premier League opener against Arsenal, as quoted on the club’s official website.

This situation has brought Andre Onana’s position into question. The Cameroonian goalkeeper was purchased from Inter Milan last year for £43.8 million. The Cameroonian goalkeeper suffered a hamstring injury during preseason and only returned to training earlier this week. Fans have criticized his performance due to his numerous blunders.

Meanwhile, Altay Bayındır, initially expected to be released this summer, served as Onana’s backup during an unbeaten preseason. However, to bring De Gea back, United will likely need to offload one of the two goalkeepers to balance their payroll.

Since joining Fiorentina, De Gea has shown a resurgence in form after spending the 2023/24 season without joining a club. He described this period as a short break. His experience and familiarity with the Old Trafford environment were key considerations for the club’s management amid a lack of new goalkeeper recruits.

Manchester United has previously been linked with several big names, including Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), and John Victor (Botafogo). However, none of them have been signed yet.

Furthermore, other targets, such as Antwerp’s Senne Lammens, are reportedly closer to joining Inter Milan. This paves the way for De Gea to return to the club where he played for over a decade.