Could free agent David de Gea sign with Manchester United again?

It had been predicted for a very, very long time that David de Gea would leave Manchester United this summer. But after many rumours flying about recently, could it possible that he may re-join United?

De Gea’s time as United’s starting goalkeeper appeared to be coming to an end, despite the Spaniard and the Red Devils having been in protracted talks about extending the player’s 12-year contract.

Due to apprehensions over his allocation and a few prominent mishandling incidents, rumours circulated that Erik ten Hag was seeking a successor for the Spaniard. Andre Onana, a former Ajax player, moved to the north-west after spending just one season at Inter, proving that the rumours were turning out to be true. 

Despite making errors against Brentford, Bayern Munich, and Galatasaray during his difficult start at Old Trafford, Onana, 27, could have reached a turning point with his Champions League injury-time penalty save against Copenhagen. With his native Cameroon, he had declared his retirement from international football; however, he later changed his mind and joined United. 

Could we possibly see De Gea’s United return anytime soon?

The last-minute addition of Onana to United’s roster didn’t fully account for his potential departure for the AFCON. With games starting to pile up after Christmas, the multiple-time Premier League winners anticipated having their best goalkeeper available for what is often a crucial period of the season. To concentrate on strengthening his form and game, Onana was reportedly planning to remain in Manchester. However, the chance to play for his nation in the most prestigious international competition for African football could be too good for him to pass up.

Because of this, rumours have surfaced connecting De Gea to a return to Old Trafford. After leaving United in June, the Spaniard is still free to sign with other teams. Rumour has it that managers are considering approaching De Gea about a comeback, especially after he turned down offers from the Saudi Pro League in an attempt to stay in Europe.

De Gea might not want to revisit Manchester’s territory so quickly, and the trade wouldn’t make much sense, while it’s also unclear if he would be interested in returning. Still, he has been spotted in Manchester recently, firstly to watch the women’s team play in the Champions League, and then to be pictured having coffee with Raphael Varane, Tom Heaton, Bruno Fernandes, and Victor Lindelof.

The chairman of United, however, is reportedly happy with the addition of Altay Bayindir, a Turkish goalkeeper who was Fenerbahce’s first choice. Now serving as Onana’s backup, he is expected to be more than capable of playing first-team football if Onana is out for any reason. 

Why did De Gea leave Manchester United this summer?

De Gea departed United for several reasons, including the club’s wish to lower his pay. This problem was mostly due to Erik Ten Hag’s intention to start with a goalkeeper who is at ease at passing the ball short and with both feet while playing out back.

Ten Hag was also looking for a confident goalkeeper who would patrol outside of United’s penalty area, acting more like a “sweeper keeper” and allowing United’s backline to press forward. De Gea’s primary skill is stopping shots, although Onana has experience in that capacity from his time at Ajax and Inter. Both sides felt that goodbye was in order, but De Gea hasn’t committed to Real Madrid or any other related-by-rumour club, so it’s unclear what he’ll do moving forward if he chooses not to come back to United.