After 12 seasons with Manchester United, goalkeeper David de Gea departed Old Trafford this summer following the expiration of his contract. The Spaniard joined the club from Atlético Madrid in 2011, going on to make a total of 545 appearances between the sticks for The Red Devils.
With de Gea now a free agent, he is now looking ahead to the next chapter in his career. At 32, he will feel as though he still has a good few years left in the game, but the big question is where will he be playing his football next season? With him being a free agent, there isn't a pressing pressure to sign up for a new club, but he'll surely be eager to get fixed up as soon as possible.
Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag was initially keen on keeping him at the club, and the club retained list revealed that discussions between de Gea and the club was ongoing. However, those talks clearly didn't result in anything either party was keen with, and they went their separate ways. Since then, ten Hag has added Inter Milan goalkeeper André Onana as de Gea's replacement.
With de Gea now a thing of the past in the colours of Man Utd, he and his representatives will now be busy looking at what is next. The question is where does he see himself at this stage of his career. Would remaining in Europe be his priority? Maybe a return home to Spain? Or to join the other stars heading over to Saudi Arabia?
We have taken a look at the odds set by Bet Victor to see if they maybe provide any clues as to where de Gea might be playing his football in the near future.
Contents
David de Gea Next Club: Any Saudi Arabian club (Evens)
It perhaps comes as no massive surprise to see de Gea mentioned with a switch to Saudi. He is at an age which appears to fit the demographic of most players joining clubs in that part of the world at this moment in time. The question is does he see himself still being able to perform at the highest level? If not, then the Saudi money becomes all the more appealing.
There are a few overseas goalkeepers that have made the move to Saudi Arabia in recent times. It would be fair to say that headlining those names is Senegalese international Édouard Mendy, who exited Chelsea in favour of Al Ahli. Another high profile name is David Ospina, once of Arsenal and Napoli, now a teammate of Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr.
David de Gea Next Club: Any German club (2/1)
Interestingly, closest to Saudi Arabia in the market is a switch to Germany, most likely the Bundesliga. This is because he has been linked with moving to Bayern Munich over the last week or so, according to Bild. The fitness of Manuel Neuer is a problem subject for Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel. The keeper won't be ready for the start of the season because of injury.
Even so, Neuer is now 37, so Tuchel may want a slightly younger pair of legs in goal. Perhaps one issue could be that undoubtedly Tuchel will want his keeper to be good with his feet, and the accusation of de Gea last season was his problems playing out from the back. It is arguably the reason de Gea is no longer at Old Trafford, with ten Hag happier with ball-playing Onana.
David de Gea Next Club: Any French club (5/1)
If indeed de Gea is to move to Ligue 1, you would suspect it would be for the top bracket of club in this division. Gianluigi Donnarumma is the first-choice keeper at PSG these days, and there is no need to replace him at the age of 24. Lyon have their stalwart in Anthony Lopes between the sticks, Marseille have an ever-improving Pau López, to name but three.
It would be unlikely to see de Gea sign for a lower-ranked team in France, purely because he will surely see himself as representing a club that can challenge for major honours. PSG are expected to win the title, as usual, so it'd be a surprise if we saw de Gea switch to France.
David de Gea Next Club: Any Spanish club (6/1)
It is a little surprising to see a move to La Liga as a bigger price than Ligue 1, purely because de Gea is Spanish and at this point in his career he may decide a return to his homeland is on the cards. A return to Atlético Madrid would be the romantic option for him, but Diego Simeone has the forever dependable Jan Oblak in goal, and he is younger than de Gea, so it wouldn't make huge sense.
There are a course of host of La Liga clubs that de Gea could arguably walk into and add value to the team. A move to Barcelona or Real Madrid would be a big, big surprise, but perhaps a team in the shape of someone like Real Sociedad, Sevilla or Villarreal maybe wouldn't be a bad shout. All of this depends on de Gea's motivation however, and only he will know that.
David de Gea Next Club: Newcastle United (10/1)
The only actual direct club, as opposed to saying ‘a Premier League team' where de Gea is most likely to go, according to the odds, is Newcastle United. The club obviously have huge financial resources available to them, and ultimately it all depends on if Eddie Howe really wants to replace England international Nick Pope. Either that, or provide him with some serious competition.
The issue is that Pope and de Gea really are a different type of goalkeeper, and generally a manager will want a similarity between his keeper's. If one is out, then another can step in and offer capabilities or a familiar nature. Still, de Gea would not be guaranteed regular football necessarily, especially as Howe has always praised Pope. 10/1 might as well be 100/1 in all seriousness.
