Man Utd decision to give David de Gea new contract being questioned by ‘important people'

Posted Friday, September 20, 2019 by Express.co.uk

Manchester United star David De Gea signed a new contract earlier this week.

Manchester United’s decision to give David De Gea a bumper new deal is being questioned by ‘important people in football’.

That’s according to journalist Duncan Castles, who believes the Red Devils goalkeeper is under pressure to rediscover his mojo.

De Gea’s form has suffered for Manchester United over the past year, with the shot-stopper no longer regarded as the best of the best within the Premier League.

And Castles has revealed the deal is being questioned, with De Gea now the club’s highest earner.

"I think there’s a definite risk involved,” Castles told Reach Plc’s Transfer Window Podcast.

"Talking to important people in football, one of their assessments is ‘is it the right time to give De Gea such a lucrative contract?

"What message do you send out when the player’s form has dropped, as it had, and you make him the best-paid player not just at the club but in the Premier League?

"There’s a psychological element to address there and it’s certainly risky in the sense that what way does the player respond.”

De Gea was being linked with moves to Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus before committing his future to the club.

Man Utd decision to give David de Gea new contract being questioned by ‘important people'
Man Utd star David De Gea recently signed a new contract (Image: GETTY)

Man Utd decision to give David de Gea new contract being questioned by ‘important people'
Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer always wanted David De Gea to stay (Image: GETTY)

Yet he has decided to stay and, speaking upon signing his new deal, hailed United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

"From the moment he arrived here he showed his faith in me, right from minute one," the Spain international told United's official website.

"I think he had a massive impact with the team. I think we won 10 or 11 games on the bounce. Everyone has faith in him, that's the most important thing.

"The fans are behind him and he's a manager who knows the club really well and the people who work here and I reckon that is essential.

"He also shows a lot of confidence in the younger players, which is important for us and so he's a really great manager."

Man Utd decision to give David de Gea new contract being questioned by ‘important people'
Man Utd star David De Gea has suffered a dip in form in recent times (Image: GETTY)

De Gea also feels United are on their way back under Solskjaer having toiled under Jose Mourinho, Louis van Gaal and David Moyes in the years since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.

"We have improved a lot defensively. We are conceding fewer goals than last season," he added.

"Last year we were letting in too many goals, but we are defending better and from there the team is improving.

"Of course, when you defend well, the team is bound to improve. We have some great players up front and we just have to keep on improving.

"The team is a lot more compact and from that base I think the team is only going to get better, and we will be much stronger and a more difficult team to beat."