Friday marks a hugely significant day for Manchester United, as long-serving goalkeeper David de Gea sees his contract expire at the club.
The Spaniard joined the club in the summer of 2011, and is the last player [alongside Phil Jones] remaining at the club from the Alex Ferguson era. He won a Premier League title with United in 2013, and has since won the FA Cup, two League Cups, and a Europa League crown with the club.
De Gea is also the only player to have won both the Manchester United players' player of the year and fans' player of the year awards on four separate occasions, and was by far the most consistently impressive performer of the post-Ferguson era at Old Trafford.
However, performances have waned in recent years, and it now looks all but assured that de Gea's contract will not be renewed, with the likes of Andre Onana heavily linked with becoming the club's number one.
It is by no means a surprise to see Manchester United look elsewhere for a new goalkeeper, but the manner in which de Gea's departure has been handled has rubbed many up the wrong way - including ex-United captain Rio Ferdinand.
READ HERE: Club President Claims Manchester United Ready To Pay Striker's €80Million Asking Price
Rio Ferdinand says Manchester United must learn from de Gea saga
Manchester United have developed something of an unfortunate reputation for allowing long-time servants to depart the club to little fanfare, and it seems as though David de Gea will be the latest player to fall into that category.
The 32-year-old shot stopper is set to leave United without receiving a proper farewell, or opportunity to thank the fans or club for his 12 years in Manchester, in a move which has disappointed many fans of the club - even among those who wished to see the Spaniard depart.
Similar treatment befell Robin van Persie and Rio Ferdinand when they left Manchester United, and Ferdinand has spoken out against the treatment of de Gea.
READ HERE: Report: Manchester United Have Named Price Tags For 13 Members Of Their Squad
Speaking on his podcast FIVE, Ferdinand - who played with de Gea for three years at United - said that the slow trickling of news surrounding de Gea in the media reflected poorly on the club. He argued that de Gea deserved better treatment after 12 years of service to the club, and said that he hoped Manchester United would learn from the incident:
I'm just a little bit gutted, I have to be honest with you, with the way that the club have handled the David de Gea situation. I think that comes down to communication.
When you have big players leaving a football club, I think Manchester United need to learn from this, because they've made mistakes in the past with players that have left the club and they've left not feeling like they've been treated...no one is given a divine right to leave a club on their own terms.
But, you want your players, especially the ones that have been there a long time and served the club well, to leave with a nice taste in the mouth. Disappointed they've got to leave, because nobody wants to leave the club they love, but it's a sour taste I'm seeing sometimes with players leaving the club. It's not right.
I don't think it's fair on the player, especially someone like [de Gea]. Listen, if a player's there a year or so and goes out in a bad way, the club can be at fault, or the player, or there's middle men, etc...I think you owe it to a player who's been there that long to make sure that they leave on half-decent terms, at least.
David will be sitting there thinking, 'wow, man, I never, ever dreamed that I'd leave this football club in this way.'
There is, of course, the off chance that David de Gea will remain at Manchester United.
United are yet to sign a top-class replacement, and second-choice Dean Henderson - who spent last year on loan at Nottingham Forest - has alienated himself somewhat to the club after comments made last summer about incoming manager Erik Ten Hag.
READ HERE: Things Got Awkward Between Roy Keane & Kenny Dalglish On Stage At The Overlap Live
Ferdinand, however, argues that de Gea may find it difficult to stay at the club, after their recent treatment of him.
De Gea himself appears disappointed by the saga surrounding his potential departure from the club, and seemed to address the constant media speculation in a tweet this week.
🥱
— David de Gea (@D_DeGea) June 28, 2023
Though most Manchester United fans - and certainly most pundits - are in agreement that the time has come for Manchester United to look past David de Gea, it can't be denied that his departure has been handled in a manner not entirely befitting of a prospective club legend.
It will be fascinating to see how this situation pans out.
SEE ALSO: Reports: Celtic Star Could Be Latest To Move To Saudi Arabia
