Free agent goalkeeper David De Gea has reportedly turned down the opportunity to join former Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia.
According to The Sun, David de Gea has reportedly turned down a reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo amid rumours he could join Lionel Messi at David Beckham’s co-owned Major League Soccer franchise, Inter Miami.
Once considered to be the best goalkeeper in the world and the 2022/23 Premier League Golden Glove winner, De Gea is shockingly still a free agent, having left United over the summer after the club made a U-turn on giving him a new contract. He brought an end to a 12-year spell with the club last summer, which saw him make 545 appearances for the Red Devils.
It was no secret that Erik ten Hag wanted to sign a new keeper who was more comfortable on the ball, eventually bringing in Andre Onana for £47 million, a move that has yielded mixed results so far.
As far as De Gea’s concerned, he has received and turned down numerous offers since departing Old Trafford, from the likes of the Saudi Pro League and Onana’s former club Inter Milan, an indication the Spaniard has struggled to find a new home.
The former Spanish international would love a return to La Liga, but the only clubs interested are Real Betis and Valencia, and the 33-year-old is unconvinced by them, partly as they would be unable to offer anything near the £350,000-a-week contract he had previously with United.
Rumours surfaced last month that he could make a sensational return to Manchester United after new signing Onana didn’t start his United career on a positive note and the fact that United could be without their No. 1 pick in the New Year due to the Africa Cup of Nations, with Cameroon having qualified.
Now, as per The Sun, the goalkeeper has recently snubbed an opportunity to earn a bumper pay packet at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, who are searching the market for a new No. 1 with David Ospina currently on the sidelines for the long term due to a serious fracture on his right elbow.
Though a reported contract in the region of £500,000 a week would prove even more lucrative than his deal at Old Trafford, De Gea is said to have no interest in moving to the Middle East. Instead, De Gea could possibly make it to the MLS, with David Beckham trying to convince his fellow United legend to hop across the pond and play with Messi at Inter Miami.
