Man United: Henderson return 'depends on De Gea' says pundit
Manchester United star David De Gea didn’t get on with Louis van Gaal during the Dutchman’s spell at Old Trafford, according to former goalkeeping coach Eric Steele. The pair spent two years at the club together. But it appears their relationship was far from good.
Back in the summer of 2015, De Gea wanted out of Manchester United.
He’d seen the club scrape a spot in the upcoming Champions League campaign that year but the 29-year-old felt that, under Van Gaal, the club were miles off challenging for the Premier League title.
De Gea wanted to join Real Madrid, who were hellbent on snapping up the former Atletico Madrid star. In the end, though, that didn’t happen.
And Steele has revealed to Goal that the shot-stopper wanted to leave because of differences with Van Gaal at Old Trafford.
“When he was under Van Gaal we knew the reason why he wanted out – they did not get on, and it didn’t work,” he told The I newspaper.
“He would have gone to Real Madrid if it wasn’t for what happened on transfer deadline day.
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When asked what value Henderson could add to Solskjaer’s squad, Steele added: “When United are back in the Champions League, you can have a 65-game season. Nobody can play every game.
“Should contracts permit, United need to say to him [Henderson] ‘you are not going out on loan, you are here to compete with David’.
“He will value the experience at Sheffield United – he is better prepared now to take that challenge on.
“United are in such a strong position.
"David will relish the challenge and come back stronger.”