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Man Utd news: Huge Barcelona and Real Madrid transfer claim made about David de Gea
MANCHESTER UNITED goalkeeper David de Gea will only join Barcelona or Real Madrid if he leaves the club - and not Paris-Saint Germain or Juventus.
Man Utd: Former coach reveals why David De Gea might leave
The Red Devils’ No 1 made another miraculous stop, clawing the ball off his line in the 70th minute to keep United level in an eventual 1-0 win over Young Boys.
That win sealed United’s progression to the Champions League last 16 with a game to spare and Jose Mourinho recognised the Spanish shot-stopper’s efforts afterwards.
“Without David’s save, no winning goal either,” said the manager, who has needed De Gea to come up with countless big stops during his two-and-a-bit seasons at Old Trafford.
De Gea’s importance to the club means they are desperate to tie the 28-year-old down to a new long-term contract with his current deal expiring at the end of this season.
United have yet to get De Gea to sign a new deal and though the club can exercise a one-year extension, they could be forced into selling him to avoid losing him for nothing 12 months later.
That has seen both PSG and Juve linked with a move, though Owen thinks only Barca or Real Madrid would be possible destinations for the keeper despite having top-class options already in Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Thibaut Courtois.
Ex-United striker Owen told BT Sport: “He’s in such a strong position to negotiate of course.
“I think United will be delighted that Courtois signed for Real Madrid because they’ve got a young goalkeeper there.
Man Utd news: Huge Barcelona and Real Madrid transfer claim made about David de Gea
“Can you justify paying top dollar for De Gea when you’ve got him? Possibly not.
“That limits the options because let’s get it right, where can he go? Where’s bigger than Manchester United?
“You’re probably, in his case, looking at Barcelona and Real Madrid and that’s about it I think.”
Despite the uncertainty over De Gea’s future, Mourinho is confident that he will stay.
He said: “He is a world-class goalkeeper, probably the best in the world.
“That’s exactly what you need if you want to be a big club that wins things.
“I know he is happy here, I know he wants to stay, and I know the board are working to make that happen.”
De Gea has made over 330 appearances since joining United in the summer of 2011 from Atletico Madrid and has been named the club’s Player of the Year in four of the last five seasons.
But he almost left for Real Madrid three years ago only for a deal to fall through on deadline day in bizarre circumstances.