Man United legend De Gea remains clubless as Serie A sides reject Spaniard over 'unacceptable' salary

De Gea is not keen on reuniting with Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia

Man United legend De Gea remains clubless as Serie A sides reject Spaniard over 'unacceptable' salary

Ayoola Kelechi 22:37 - 01.08.2024

After more than a year without a club, De Gea's salary demands are still too high for his suitors from Serie A

Former Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea is still without a club more than a year after his contract with the Premier League side expired.

Despite being a free agent, the Spanish goalkeeper's salary demands have proven to be a significant obstacle in securing a new team as both Fiorentina and Genoa have reportedly cooled their interest in signing him.

Wage expectations scupper De Gea’s return

Negotiations with Genoa had reportedly reached an advanced stage, and Sportitalia claims that Fiorentina were also trying to work out personal terms with the veteran keeper.

Former Man United goalkeeper David De Gea || Credit: De Gea/Instagram

However, De Gea's wage expectations, even after a substantial cut from his Manchester United salary, have been deemed unrealistic and unacceptable by both Serie A clubs.

According to TEAMtalk, De Gea is seeking an annual salary of around €5-6 million, and while this is significantly lower than his previous earnings at Manchester United, it is still considered too high given his age and recent injury history.

Former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea | Imago

This demand has deterred potential suitors, leaving the 34-year-old goalkeeper in search of a new team.

De Gea to Saudi Arabia?

With Serie A clubs baulking at his salary demands, De Gea's future may lie outside of Europe as the high wages available in the Saudi Pro League could make it a viable option for the experienced goalkeeper.

David De Gea |Pulsesports.ng
Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea

The Saudi league has been attracting several high-profile players with lucrative offers, and De Gea's situation could see him joining this trend.

De Gea could team up with former Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr or join Al Ittihad alongside stars like Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante after the team failed in their attempt to lure Ederson away from Manchester City.