Manchester United have been slammed over their ‘tone deaf’ comment on David de Gea’s wedding Instagram post – just days after his contract expired at Old Trafford.
The Spanish keeper didn’t let the disappointment of being released by United faze him as he tied the knot with long-term partner Edurne Garcia at a lavish wedding ceremony in Menorca. The goalkeeper is now officially a free agent after 12 years at the club as United U-turned on a contract offer earlier this year and he faces an uncertain future.
They may still re-sign De Gea, 32, and were planning to hold face-to-face talks after he got married to singer, TV presenter and actress Garcia, 37. But the couple were all smiles as they posed on the special occasion which came after they also enjoyed a pre-wedding celebration on the Balearic Island. De Gea then shared photos on his Instagram with his wife, with the caption: ‘We couldn’t be happier’.
His now former club were quick to respond and sent their well wishes, as they said: ‘Felicidades, David,’ meaning ‘Congratulations, David.’ However, this infuriated some supporters, who questioned the message after United had seemingly messed him around by reneging on a contract offer to leave him without a club.
One said: ‘You made him a free agent after years of excellent loyal service and have the cheek to comment, as a MU fan, f*** off.’
Another added: ‘Are u kidding?? You let this man lose a job on a wedding day.’
A further furious fan quipped: ‘This club has no shame… you’ve been so disrespectful to him!’
Others agreed the club ‘had no shame’ while one labelled it ‘foul behaviour’.
De Gea – who joined United from Atletico Madrid for £18.9million in 2011, when Sir Alex Ferguson was still manager – was expecting to take a significant pay cut on his £375,000-a-week deal at Old Trafford despite remaining as the club’s No 1 last season. But the renewal was put in jeopardy because of Erik Ten Hag’s reservations about the Spaniard and reports emerged on Tuesday claiming De Gea had signed his new contract before United backed out and tabled an even lower offer.
A resolution hasn’t been reached yet and the four-year deal De Gea signed in September 2019 has now run out.
Nevertheless, it was the u-turn on the deal that most angered supporters as another added: ‘As a fan since I was 12-years-old this club is incredible tone deaf and treats legends like this. Don’t f*** around with his money and future but come and wish him well on his wedding day it’s two-faced.’
Meanwhile, a further supporter said: ‘So that’s the way you treated a 12-year Red Devil, bravo!’
In a statement on Friday night, United said: ‘David De Gea’s contract is due to run out but discussions remain open with the long-serving keeper.’
United will sit down with De Gea to discuss the options but have been mindful not to interfere with the wedding plans and private time with his family, but at this stage it appears unlikely United will re-sign the goalkeeper, who won the Premier League Golden Glove award for 17 clean sheets last season despite making a number of high-profile mistakes.
United are interested in Inter Milan’s Andre Onana, as confirmed by the Italian side, while Ten Hag refused to allow Tom Heaton to sign for Luton Town earlier this week to prevent a shortage of keeping options. Ten Hag has publicly backed De Gea all season but is believed to have reservations about some of his abilities, including passing out from the back.
De Gea made errors in the away defeats to Brentford and West Ham last season and was at fault for Ilkay Gundogan’s winning goal for Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley. The most probable outcome is that De Gea will leave and look for a new club amid lucrative offers from the Saudi Pro League.
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