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Onana’s expected arrival from Inter Milan to replace the departed De Gea suggests the Red Devils are undertaking an overdue evolution.
You are unlikely to find an indifferent observer to the events preceding David de Gea’s Manchester United departure after 12 years.
The Spanish goalkeeper seemingly agreed to continue at Old Trafford, only for the club to alter those terms and pull the offer, leaving the 32-year-old in limbo regarding his future.
For the Red Devils, this was not a first for a club that seldom sever ties amicably with its legends. David Beckham wanted to represent the club for the entirety of his career but did not after a bitter exit. Ruud van Nistelrooy left Old Trafford on a sour note. Even Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure last year was messy.
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De Gea’s exit could have been handled better, but there is something resembling a pattern at the Manchester giants. You can question the club’s approach but not the aim.
De Gea was often Manchester United’s saviour
For years until the decline of the last 12 to 18 months, De Gea was often Man United’s standout performer, an upshot of the dysfunction in front of him.
No player had won the Players' Player of the Year award three times until the Spaniard in 2017-18, and the custodian claimed a record-extending four titles after winning his fourth in 2021-22.
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16:15 - 08.07.2023
De Gea: Top 5 unforgettable Manchester United moments
Spanish shot-stopper David De Gea announced his Manchester United exit after 12 years and 545 appearances for the Red Devils.
Only two players — Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw — were voted POTY multiple times by their colleagues at the club, an honour that was bestowed upon De Gea four times.
The 2017-18 campaign was arguably the goalkeeper’s finest at Old Trafford. It was evident in the eye test, and the advanced analytics verified the 32-year-old’s impressive shot-stopping as Jose Mourinho’s Red Devils ended second.
According to Fbref, De Gea prevented almost 13 goals based on the quality of shots faced throughout a season in which the Red Devils conceded 28 times (one more than Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City) but offered their goalkeeper far less protection.
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For context, the Spaniard made 114 saves in that campaign, whereas Ederson stopped 54 shots. The departed United goalkeeper ranked fifth in the 2017-18 campaign for volume of saves, with his 80.7 save percentage outranking every shot-stopper in the division.
That was De Gea in his prime. An incredible goal-saving custodian capable of elevating an average side. But it just never felt enough.
Manchester United needed to evolve away from De Gea
For all his shot-stopping prowess, the former United goalkeeper was flawed.
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Despite his Spanish roots, he never offered comfort in possession or commanded his area with consistent regularity to ward off an aerial bombardment from the opposition.
Indeed, De Gea was comfortable staying on his goalmouth and intermittently seemed like a fish out of water whenever he had to leave that comfort zone.
Admittedly, year one under Erik ten Hag showed the 32-year-old’s inclination to be more assertive, but this had a limit.
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The former Ajax boss wants control, an element of his approach that was absent at various points last season and probably cost them against Sevilla in the Europa League.
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07:48 - 14.04.2023
UEL Absence of control, not Rashford, was Manchester United’s biggest miss against Sevilla
The Red Devils still cannot get the better of Sevilla, and Erik ten Hag will bemoan his team’s egregious game management at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag had intended to begin the season by implementing his ideas, but the home defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion in gameweek one and a disastrous 4-0 thrashing at Brentford the following week brought about an alteration. The Dutchman adapted.
Gameweek three against Liverpool saw Manchester United claim three points for the first time under Ten Hag, and it brought about a drastic change to the home side’s build-up.
De Gea sent 16 goal kicks long against Jurgen Klopp’s men, and 29 passes were launched 40 yards or farther.
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16:16 - 01.07.2023
Manchester United ask unemployed De Gea not to join rivals in sensational plea
David De Gea has reportedly been asked by Manchester United not to join another club despite becoming a free agent on July 1.
By contrast, three goal kicks were launched against Brighton and Brentford in gameweeks one and two, while a total of 12 long passes were played by the goalkeeper in those games.
Recognising the limitation of his goalkeeper, the United boss adapted accordingly and commendably claimed third place in the Premier League, won the League Cup and reached the FA Cup final.
Now they have to evolve.
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13:14 - 30.06.2023
TRANSFERS What Manchester United must do to replace unwanted De Gea with Onana
David De Gea has become an enemy of the state at Manchester United who have been linked with Cameroonian superstar Andre Onana as a possible replacement.
Onana replacing De Gea at Manchester United aids Ten Hag’s progression
The Spaniard’s exit was poorly handled, but his contract expiration was perfectly timed.
Shifting the former Atletico Madrid goalkeeper would have been problematic this summer if he had time left on his United contract, and the reported move for Andre Onana represents a shift in Ten Hag’s United approach.
Onana’s composure in possession allows the Manchester outfit flexibility in their build-up, while the Cameroonian’s passing range adds an element of unpredictability to the side.
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The Inter Milan custodian’s shot-stopping may not be at the level of De Gea in his prime, but he is no slouch at goal-saving stops.
This was evident in the Nerazzurri’s Champions League run last season, in which Onana’s exploits were recognised.
No shot-stopper prevented more goals than the Inter goalkeeper, with Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois coming second among players to have averaged six games or higher.
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The days following De Gea’s Manchester United departure have been characterised by observers watering down Onana’s shot-stopping capabilities, with a few snippets of the 27-year-old’s errors in possession surfacing on social media — predictably causing one to foresee the schadenfreude that will ensue after the Cameroonian’s first gaffe in English football if a transfer eventually materialises.
Even if Ten Hag’s decision to let go of a goalkeeper typically known for his shot-stopping for one recognised for his ball-playing capabilities appears analogous to Guardiola jettisoning Joe Hart at Manchester City in 2016, the Dutchman’s call is far less divisive.
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14:55 - 10.07.2023
TRANSFERS Manchester United to seal Onana's deal in next couple of hours
The Red Devils have been pursuing the African star and are now close to landing their summer target.
United supporters denigrated the City boss but are far more welcoming of Ten Hag’s judgement.
We have come full circle; now it is left to see how the Red Devils’ approach plays out.
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