David de Gea was questioned about his contract position and the likelihood of terminating his career at Old Trafford midway through a preseason interview at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Perth last summer.
Of certainly, if it's possible. De Gea informed us. I will undoubtedly stay here if they permit me to.
It was an odd answer that gave the impression that United was in control of the situation. It also helps to explain why, ten months later, De Gea's future is finally set to be decided.
On the one hand, we're talking about a goalkeeper who has already cemented his place in Old Trafford lore as a four-time club player of the year who, at 32, is still in the peak of his career.
When De Gea played against West Ham over the weekend, he broke Alex Stepney's United goalkeeper appearance record. He surpassed Peter Schmeichel's record for clean sheets in February, and this season, he has 15 shutouts to lead the Premier League.
De Gea, on the other hand, is drawing criticism at a time when contract negotiations seem to be moving in the right direction.
When Said Benrahma's very pedestrian attempt bounced over his outstretched right hand to give West Ham the victory at the London Stadium, he was flailing helplessly at it.
De Gea's errors have directly contributed to goals four times this season. United had to decide what to do with their seasoned No. 1, who is set to finish his 12th season at Old Trafford.
At the weekend, Erik ten Hag urged that De Gea should remain, and it's possible that he does. But United's ambivalence is important.
With only seven weeks left before De Gea becomes a free agent, negotiations have dragged on. Since January 1, he has been able to communicate with overseas clubs.
When United signed 12-month contracts with Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw, Fred, and Diogo Dalot in December, they chose not to do the same for De Gea.
The goalkeeper's £375,000 weekly salary—the highest at Old Trafford—was the primary factor in this.
United wants De Gea to take a pay reduction, which is the key issue in negotiations (again, not exactly a resounding vote of confidence).
Both parties are hopeful that an agreement will be reached before his current contract expires on June 30 as long as talks continue.
The cost of replacing De Gea in the summer, when Ten Hag is anticipated to spend a significant portion of his money on a striker, central midfielder, and center defender, is the other consideration. Keepers of the highest caliber are not cheap.
The uncertainty regarding his future persists, despite the fact that United has undergone significant transformation since he spoke in Perth.
As soon as United confirms the new contract, it will appear more like a marriage of convenience than a profession of love.
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