David de Gea 'in talks' with Spanish second division side after meeting with club chiefs

Former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has met with officials to discuss the project and vision of Spanish second division club Eldense, according to reports in Spain.

The 33-year-old, who became a free agent in July after failing to agree terms on a new contract at Old Trafford, is still on the lookout for a new club.

He has been linked with a host of clubs, including Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, who brought Neymar, Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to the Middle East this summer, among others,

The Spaniard has also been tipped to make an unexpected return to United on a short-term deal amid concerns they will be lacking in the goalkeeper department when Andre Onana goes to the Africa Cup of Nations.

But for the time being, he continues to stall on making a move as he wants to live in his home country, according to the Daily Mail.

"De Gea's desire to settle back in his home country with Spanish wife Edurne Garcia have made that an option that will only be looked at when other possibilities have been fully exhausted," the report said.

"He married his long-term partner in Menorca this summer and after so long away the feeling is they prefer to settle back in Spain."

With that in mind, De Gea is said to be considering a potential move to Eldense, according to Spanish publication AS, who suggest the goalkeeper was in Alicante last week to meet with club president Pascual Perez and other officials.

But rather than a transfer, the former Atletico Madrid shot-stopper is keen on investing from an ownership perspective.

Perez recently expressed his intentions to step aside from the Segunda Division side and sell his majority sharehold in the club.

"After managing to rise from Tercera RFEF to LaLiga Hypermotion in just three seasons, Pascual Perez will leave the presidency of his hometown club having achieved professional football, a goal that has not been achieved for 60 years," a statement read.

Image credit: Getty

De Gea has been strongly linked with a move to La Liga side Real Betis of late, although manager Manuel Pellegrini played down those reports, saying: "If you ask me I would say I don't think so."

Topics: David De Gea, Manchester United, Spain, La Liga

Jack Kenmare

Senior Journalist at SPORTbible with a passion for long-form journalism. Almost 10 years’ experience across online and print.

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