De Gea: 13 Months Unemployed and Counting

Unai Simón was a cornerstone of Spain's triumph in the European Championship, with a statistic that stands out: he is the first Spanish goalkeeper in Euro history to save a penalty in regular time, boasting a career penalty save rate of 23.63%. In contrast, his predecessor David de Gea has a Premier League penalty save rate of only 8.7%.

Reflecting on his national team debut in 2020, Simón humbly said, "De Gea is a very talented goalkeeper, and I have learned a lot from him." Four years have passed, during which Simón has faced challenges in the World Cup, Nations League, and European Championship, while De Gea has long since become an outsider to the Spanish national team.

The comparison is stark. De Gea's potential return to the Spanish national team has become an uninteresting topic. Despite being the Premier League's most utilized and clean sheet king for the 2022-23 season, the door to Spain's national team remains shut for the Golden Glove winner. It's not prejudice; De Gea, who no longer fits modern football needs, is increasingly sidelined. Although he had a chance to renew his contract with Manchester United, his high salary demands were a major obstacle. Even though his replacement, Onana, has a certain erratic quality, his save success rate, second only to Alisson last season, minimized the impact of letting De Gea go and gave Ten Hag the confidence to move forward.

De Gea might feel disheartened, but from another perspective, he has done his best. He was once the heir to Iker Casillas for Spain, with his most iconic performance being the 2015 Euro qualifier against Ukraine, where he made 10 saves. He was also a "shot-stopper," but his lowest point was the 2018 World Cup, where he conceded 6 goals from 7 shots on target.

At Manchester United, despite his heroics in the 2017 match against Arsenal with 14 saves, earning the phrase "De Gea saves," his final two seasons were marred by frequent errors. His poor ball-handling skills also made him unsuitable for Ten Hag's style.

Abandoned by both club and country, De Gea seems like a relic of a bygone era. Even though Unai Simón scored an own goal for Spain and Onana made mistakes at Manchester United, their age and playing style give them a future. When Enrique didn't include De Gea in the preliminary World Cup squad of 55, it became clear that his time was up. Calls for De Gea's return have occasionally surfaced, but as Spain celebrated their Nations League victory with Simón's penalty saves, De Gea's path back was effectively blocked.

The harsh reality of the sports world is that past achievements and sentimental value can't sustain professional relationships forever. De Gea's technical flaws and declining form have been magnified over time. He has criticized team management, potentially disrupting unity, and made snide comments about Enrique's decisions. This behavior reflects the frustration of unfulfilled desires and the harsh reality of being phased out. The Golden Glove feels more like a parting gift for 12 years of service at Manchester United rather than a testament to ongoing prowess.

After leaving Manchester United last summer, De Gea was linked with several clubs. Given his reputation and talent, it's no surprise. Offers reportedly came from Saudi Arabia with a €500,000 weekly salary, and clubs like Newcastle, West Ham, and Real Betis showed interest. Even Manchester United fans called for his return as a backup. However, De Gea's stringent requirements—only considering offers from top clubs with Champions League football—made it difficult for these rumors to materialize. Realistically, his criteria are too high, making a comeback unlikely. If he doesn't receive an offer from a top club, retirement might be on the horizon, according to those close to him.

Goalkeepers traditionally have longer careers, but at 33, De Gea needs to reassess his prospects. Despite his social media posts showcasing his training regime with captions like "I'll be back," no concrete offers have materialized. De Gea’s recent activities include vacationing with family, playing tennis with friends, tidying his house in Manchester, and reconnecting with former teammates at Old Trafford. While these moments are captured with smiles, there's an underlying sense of sadness; he shouldn't be jobless at his peak.

Retirement rumors are growing stronger. Many believe De Gea might choose to fade into the background. Interestingly, his recent social media post featuring an hourglass emoji suggests a return to football might be imminent, or he might just be passing time and creating buzz. Either way, it takes a brave club to take a chance on him now.