David de Gea is set to miss this winter’s World Cup with the Manchester United goalkeeper relegated to SIXTH choice.
De Gea has won 45 caps for Spain, having made his debut back in 2014. But he has now been in the international wilderness for two years, having been continually snubbed by boss Luis Enrique.
The United stopper was named the club’s Players’ Player of the Season in 2021/22, in recognition for his heroic performances in an otherwise miserable season. But that has done little to sway Enrique who has made it clear he values keepers’ ability on the ball as much as more traditional qualities.
That has seen Athletic’s Unai Simon and Brighton keeper Rober Sanchez move ahead of him in the pecking order in recent times. That had naturally led to some concern that he would miss out on Spain’s squad for this winter’s showpiece tournament in Qatar.
However, a report in the Spanish publication AS has revealed that De Gea hasn’t even made Enrique’s provisional 55-man squad, which includes as many as FIVE goalkeepers. Along with Simon and Sanchez, it is understood Chelse’s Kepa Arrizibalaga and David Soria from Getafe have been included - albeit the latter pair will only be on standby.
It means De Gea will have a watching brief when the Premier League pauses next month, with many of his Red Devils teammates flying out to the Gulf state. Speaking earlier this year, Enrique spoke about his options in goal and made it clear why the 1-year-old was no longer in contention.
“I look to have three starting goalkeepers and I think that right now I have them,” Enrique said back in June. “Honestly. I wouldn’t have an issue with any of the three of them starting.
“Unai has accumulated some interesting experience,” he added. “A goalkeeper should start the play and generate the first superiority, they must dominate the aerial play.
“I need a goalkeeper that transmits peace and calmness to me, that doesn’t mean they won’t make mistakes, errors are part of football. What they generate I like a lot.”
And as well as an uncertain future for the national team, De Gea’s long-term club situation remains unclear. His current deal is set to expire at the end of this season - and although United have the option to extend for a further 12 months it has yet to be exercised.
Similarly to international level, in Erik ten Hag, De Gea has another manager who demands his keepers to be a part of their possession-based game. That isn’t a facet of his game that has come naturally, with some notable errors in the early months of the Dutchman's tenure.
Earlier this month, after he racked up his 500th appearance for the Red Devils, Ten Hag revealed that a decision over a contract extension for the Spanish veteran had yet to be signed off.
“We didn’t make a decision on him. But what I can say is I’m really happy with David de Gea as a keeper,” Ten Hag said. “The first two games of the season were not his best performances but after it, you see he brings us a lot for the defence, the defensive department. He gives stability and, as a person also, I like him.
“I can cooperate really well with him. But first we go to the winter and then we will talk about how we deal with situations.”
