David de Gea agreed to a “secret request” upon leaving Manchester United, it has been claimed.
The Sun have reported that United are considering re-signing De Gea on a short-term deal amid worries they will be short on keepers when Andre Onana goes to the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Spaniard, who was No.1 at Old Trafford for 12 years, only left the club this summer upon the expiry of his deal.
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Despite having just won the Golden Glove, United offered the 32-year-old reduced terms to stay at United, only to months later take that deal off the table and make another even less lucrative proposal.
De Gea departed, insisting he was eager for a new challenge and has been without a club ever since.
However, the Sun has claimed United are now considering offering De Gea a short-term deal, with Onana set to miss up to eight matches in January and February due to AFCON.
According to the Sun, in the summer De Gea, who was then United’s highest earner, was offered a new deal that would slash his wages from £375,000 a week to £200,000 a week.
Despite the significant pay cut, that deal was taken off the table and revised further.
The publication also claimed United asked the Spaniard not to agree to join another club until they had completed the signing of his replacement, Onana.
Such a request could have drastically compromised De Gea’s ability to sign for a new club.
Upon leaving United the first time around, De Gea said: "I just wanted to send this farewell message to all Manchester United supporters.
"I would like to express my unwavering gratitude and appreciation for the love from the last 12 years. We've achieved a lot since my dear Sir Alex Ferguson brought me to this club.
"I took incredible pride every time I pulled on this shirt, to lead the team, to represent this institution, the biggest club in the world was an honour only bestowed upon a few lucky footballers.
"It's been an unforgettable and successful period since I came here. I didn't think from leaving Madrid as a young boy we would achieve what we did together.
"Now, it's the right time to undertake a new challenge, to push myself again in new surroundings.
"Manchester will always be in my heart, Manchester has shaped me and will never leave me. We've seen it all."
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Topics: Football, Manchester United, David De Gea, Transfers, Andre Onana
Chris Byfield