Fans hail De Gea signing

Fans on our Talking Reds message board have their say on United’s new Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea...

"Sir Alex is on the verge of creating another super team. The quality of signings has been top-notch and it’s good to see we are spending wisely." - Mauritian Red-Devils

"De Gea can become the best goalkeeper in the world. He has all the attributes necessary to be United’s number one for the next 15 years or so." - Me23

"De Gea is a good shot-stopper and very comfortable with the ball at his feet. I don’t think he can be labelled as one of the world’s best yet but I imagine in a few years he will be if he fulfils his potential. Welcome to United, David." - Stoney187

"He has got a lot of potential and if he works hard he will be right up there with the greats. Although he has similarities with Edwin, we should see him more as David de Gea and nothing more. He is his own man and will contribute to the team in his own way; simply a great goalkeeper to have." - MC7

"I'm really excited and happy that we have signed David de Gea. He is already one of the best young keepers in the world. I've seen him a few times and he looks very athletic and composed, I can’t wait to see him in a United shirt." - Ollie_4_United

David De Gea

Backing the new boys

One of the longest-serving players in United’s history believes new arrivals David de Gea, Phil Jones and Ashley Young will have the fans’ full backing at Old Trafford.

Legendary left-back Arthur Albiston says the home faithful could play a big part in helping the trio of summer signings adapt to their new surroundings.

Albiston told ManUtd.com: “Our supporters are renowned for giving people time. Of course, there’s nothing they like more than watching young players come through the United ranks into the first team but they’ll have similar feelings about Jones and de Gea, given they’re only 19 and 20.

“The fans at Old Trafford have loads of patience with new players coming to the club, especially young ones, and they’ll get behind them.

“Everyone’s going to make the odd mistake but our fans are very forgiving. I’m sure Peter Schmeichel would hold his hand up to one or two mistakes in his first season. That’s something that goes with the territory.
“The crowd will give de Gea, Jones and Young every backing and if the new boys perform as well as Javier Hernandez and Chris Smalling did in their first season, I’m sure the supporters and the manager will all be delighted.”

Albiston acknowledges there are parallels between de Gea and the goalkeeper he made most of his 485 United appearances in front of, Gary Bailey. Bailey was also just out of his teens when he made his debut for the Reds in 1978 and, like de Gea, was effectively replacing a long-term number one at Old Trafford – in his case, 1968 European Cup hero and 1977 FA Cup winner Alex Stepney.

“De Gea’s in a very similar situation to Gary Bailey, who got into our side at a very young age and went on to be a fantastic servant for United,” recalled Albiston.

“I don’t know what de Gea is like confidence-wise or character-wise. But Bailey had a strong personality, with bags of confidence. And although he was thrown in at the deep end, he wasn’t shy about giving orders to experienced international defenders.

“That’s something you’ve got to do as a goalkeeper and some people find it difficult. But all players have to speak on the pitch and a goalkeeper has to be especially vociferous and organise his defence.

"De Gea has proved he can play in front of big crowds – he just needs to get to know the lads, especially the defenders. Like Bailey, Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar, he musn’t be shy in telling them what to do.”

David De Gea

Boss explains absentees

Sir Alex has explained why David De Gea and Ashley Young did not feature in the 2-0 win against Norwich.

Sir Alex Ferguson

The Reds' No1 was left out in favour of Anders Lindegaard, who made his Barclays Premier League debut, while winger Young did not make the bench but should be fit to represent England in the crunch Euro 2012 qualifier in Montenegro next Friday.

"It was an opportunity to play Anders because he doesn't have a game for two weeks," the boss revealed to MUTV. "He goes away with Denmark but he’s not in the team whereas David's got two games with Spain's Under-21s. So it was a good opportunity to give Anders a turn.

"Ashley got a little knock and it wasn't worth risking him because of the games we've got coming up, including Liverpool in two weeks' time. There are internationals of course but I think he'll be okay for England, he should be alright. He just wasn't right today."

David De Gea

Papers: De Gea deal close

David De Gea Action

Top GeaManchester United believe they have secured their first signing of the summer. Spain Under-21 goalkeeper David De Gea has confirmed he will leave Atletico Madrid at the end of the season, and now his club have accepted, in principle, a United offer of around £16million.Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson revealed this week he wants three high-profile new faces to cover the departure of some of his most experienced players, with Gary Neville and Edwin Van der Sar retiring, and Paul Scholes possibly following suit. A keeper is top of his list, and positive contact has already been made with representatives of De Gea, who is only 20 but is already regarded as one of the best at his position in Europe. Contrary to suggestions in Spain, no deal has yet been signed. But the new Premier League champions are supremely confident they have their man after being given permission to talk to the player. Chief executive David Gill said: "We know the keeper we want and are in a good position, and I'm sure we can get the deal done." But the De Gea deal is clearly just the start of a big-money summer for United, who are prepared to spend big to ensure they replace important players with quality performers proven at the highest level. While De Gea is still a youngster, he has already won his spurs at the top level, helping Atletico win the Europa League last season and the UEFA Super Cup back in August and playing in the Champions League. 
David Maddock, Daily Mirror

The Guardian speculate that Paul Scholes may play his last game for the Reds against Blackpool on Sunday with the midfielder set to retire from the game. The Sun features quotes from Wayne Rooney who says he is desperate to play against Blackpool. "You play football to play in these games and I hope I can play on Sunday. You want to keep ticking over."

Sir Alex's team selection will be very much under the spotlight on Sunday and the Express' Matt Dunn reckons United could be sued if we lose and another team is relegated.

David De Gea

De Gea shines in training

Chris Smalling believes David De Gea will soon show the football world the same qualities he's demonstrating behind closed doors at Carrington every day.
United's 20 year-old Spanish goalkeeper has had a raw deal this week from pundits who found him at fault for West Brom's equaliser at The Hawthorns last Sunday. But while his knockers have been noisy, De Gea has quietly knuckled down to training hard with his team-mates.

"He has been training really well," Smalling told us on Friday. "We have played a few small-sided games this week and you could see his agility and his kicking ability. He is showing his quality in training and it is only a matter of time until the whole world sees it too."

Smalling feels it's only natural for De Gea to experience some difficulties while he adjusts to a new league, life and language in Manchester. The defender added:

"It’s all a learning curve and I think a lot of the foreign lads take time to get used to it.

David De Gea

"I think he’s settling in really well. A lot of the lads speak Spanish anyway but he is learning English, it's coming along, and that will help him. He is getting into the groove and I’m sure there are good things to come from him."

De Gea first impressed Smalling in May 2010 when their former clubs, Atletico Madrid and Fulham, contested the Europa League final in Hamburg. The England Under-21 defender reminds us that De Gea more than played his part in the Spanish side's triumph.

“Some of the media criticism this week has been a bit judgmental given that he has only played a couple of games for United. He played some massive games for Atletico Madrid - including the Europa League final - and performed well.

"The manager has obviously put a lot of faith in him by making him first-choice and I think he is going to be a great goalkeeper for us."

David De Gea

Evra backs de Gea

Patrice Evra is backing new signing David de Gea to fill the considerable goalkeeping void left by Edwin van der Sar’s retirement.

Spanish stopper de Gea agreed to join the Reds from Atlético Madrid on Wednesday and has already set his sights on emulating Edwin’s achievements at the club.

The Dutchman won four league titles and a Champions League in his six seasons at United, and Evra says de Gea will be given every chance to make the same impact.

"David is a good goalkeeper," Evra said. "We don’t know him yet but we’ll give him a nice welcome.
"It’s never easy to replace a big goalkeeper like van der Sar, and I’m a little bit sad that Edwin has retired, but de Gea is the future now.

"He has to work hard because it’s not easy to do the job Edwin did, but he’ll be given every opportunity.
"We wish him all the best because he has come to the biggest club in the world, and it’s important for him to give 100% every day."

Evra was speaking to MUTV in Beijing, China, where he was appearing as part of United’s Asia Trophy Tour.

David De Gea

Boss confirms De Gea move

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed United are close to signing Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David De Gea.

Speaking after Gary Neville's testimonial match on Tuesday night, the manager said: "We've been working on it [De Gea transfer] for quite a while. We identified him quite a while back as one we should go for.

"He's a young goalkeeper, very quick, good composure, presence and an outstanding replacement for van der Sar.

"We were looking for the same type of qualities as Edwin, because the one great quality Edwin always had was his composure and organisational ability.
"With David De Gea, he is very similar that way."

De Gea, 20, has already won two European honours - the Europa League and UEFA Super Cup - but is still awaiting a senior cap with Spain having represented his country at various levels up to Under-21. He was named in the provisional 30-man squad for last summer's World Cup but missed the cut when coach Vincente del Bosque reduced his list to 23 players for the actual tournament.

David De Gea