Man Utd reject is now Saudi-bound after astronomical wage demands put off LaLiga clubs
Former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea is once again being linked with a move to Saudi Arabia as the free agent continues to search for a new club.
Erik ten Hag decided against extending the Spain shot-stopper’s contract at the end of last season, bringing his 12-year stint at Old Trafford to an end.
Despite winning the Premier League Golden Glove last season after keeping 17 clean sheets, it was clear that the Man Utd manager wanted to sign a keeper with greater ability on the ball.
The Red Devils ultimately brought in Andre Onana from Inter Milan for £47m, and De Gea has been on the lookout for a new club ever since.
As previously reported by Football365, European giants such as Bayern Madrid and Real Madrid have been linked with De Gea, but a move has never materialised.
As a result, a switch to Saudi seems like the most likely outcome for the 32-year-old at the moment, as he continues to train to prepare for his return to football.
According to Football Espana, interest from Saudi is expected to be ‘revived’ in the next few days as De Gea eyes a new challenge.
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Despite his free-agent status, the Spaniard is still likely to command hefty wages if he does make the switch to the Gulf state.
Before his departure from Man Utd, De Gea earned a reported wage of £375,000 per week – which made him the highest earner at the club.
These demands have proved to be a problem for European teams. It’s likely that only Saudi clubs would be able to afford him.
That is despite the fact that De Gea would prefer to join a LaLiga side. As mentioned, Real Madrid considered a move for him but ultimately opted to sign Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea on a season-long loan instead.
As per a report from the Daily Record, De Gea is looking for an after-tax annual salary of £8.7m, which works out at roughly £167,000 per week.
This is far more than any LaLiga club is willing to pay at the moment, which makes Saudi the most likely destination for him.
With that in mind, we could see De Gea follow the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and many other former Premier League stars to Saudi imminently.
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The article Man Utd reject is now Saudi-bound after astronomical wage demands put off LaLiga clubs appeared first on Football365.com.
