Manchester United striker coach Benni McCarthy has argued that the club needs Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea to continue with them for the foreseeable future.
De Gea is the current longest-serving player at the club and has been one of the best performers of the club in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. A slew of mistakes followed him in that time, however, and for a time, he was replaced by other Manchester United goalkeepers by some of the managers who have taken charge of the club since Ferguson stepped down.
Still, the former Spain number one has outlasted every one of the said goalkeepers.
The discourse around his exit has raged on among the fanbase for a few seasons and in Erik ten Hag’s first season, the discourse became louder. The club is believed to be on the hunt for new goalkeepers to replace the 32-year-old and are also looking to extend his contract. Opinions are torn on whether the club should allow him to leave at the expiration of his contract and focus their energy on getting a new goalkeeper or if they should offer him a new one.
Benni McCarthy has come out in support of De Gea as the discourse rages on.
The former South Africa national team striker was brought in as a striker coach by ten Hag upon his appointment as Manchester United manager in the summer. His department is the attackers but as one of the coaches of the team, he gets to interact with all players. His interactions with De Gea have convinced him that the Spaniard needs to stay on and he has spoken out to that effect.
McCarthy, who is on holiday in his home country of South Africa, was speaking to a local media house 947 Joburg, when he made these comments. “He kept 17 clean sheets in the league. Yes, of course, you’re going to concede but to win the Golden Glove for yet another season is remarkable.
“You see how difficult the league is so I understand that, yes, everyone has a bad game here and there, but it doesn’t stop him from being one of the best goalkeepers I’ve seen and I’ve worked with. He is unbelievable.
“When you spend every single day with a certain player, I get to see first-hand more than what most people get to do. You only see him on a Saturday or on a matchday, and if you see a player make a mistake, [fans] yelling at him, the critics hit the roof.
“But I get to spend every single day with him and he is an unbelievable guy, a great lad, very intelligent and one of the best goalkeepers I have seen.
“It would be a crime if Man United lose a goalkeeper like David de Gea.”
