What’s the story?
Real Madrid have been dealt a huge blow in their pursuit of Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea due to the lack of a buyout clause in the Spaniard’s contract, if reports in dailymail are to be believed. Earlier reports had suggested that there was a buyout clause in the 26-year-old’s contract which would enable the Santiago Bernabeu outfit to sign the Spaniard in the upcoming summer transfer window.
However, as per the new report, Los Blancos will have to break the World record for the transfer of a goalkeeper to sign the Spaniard. The current world record for the transfer of a goalkeeper stands at £33m, which Juventus paid for Gianluigi Buffon when they signed him from Parma in 2001.
In case you didn’t know...
Real Madrid tried and failed in their attempt of David de Gea on the deadline day of the summer transfer window of 2015, in what was a huge fiasco with both Los Blancos and Manchester United blaming the other party.
Following the failed move to Madrid, De Gea penned a new contract with the Red Devils and it was reported that the new contract has a buyout clause inserted in it with various outlets reporting different figures for the same. However, the report from dailymail refutes the existence of any buyout clause in his contract.
The heart of the matter
Real Madrid have long been linked with a move for the Spanish shot-stopper. The Santiago Bernabeu outfit came close to signing him two seasons ago but after the eventual fallout, their interest had cooled for a bit.
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However, following a series of high-profile mistakes by first-choice shot-stopper Keylor Navas and his relative dip in form this season, the Spanish giants have again reignited their interest in the 26-year-old.
What's next?
David de Gea has two years left on his contract with the Old Trafford outfit with the Red Devils having the option to extend it for an additional year. By the looks of it, the Spaniard is set to stay at Manchester but Real Madrid have a reputation of getting what they want and who they want, and they really need a better first-choice goalkeeper.
Expect the transfer negotiations between the two clubs to be a long and protracted affair, given how things panned out the last time out. This could be one of the biggest sagas of the summer and has the potential to be a world record deal if it does materialize.
Author’s Take
To sign a player of De Gea’s caliber requires huge investment in today’s market and given the fractured nature of relationship between the Red Devils and the Santiago Bernabeu outfit, it will require a really special offer from Real Madrid that proves too hard to turn down for Manchester United.
In the words of Marlon Brando (circa Godfather), Florentino Perez will need to make Manchester United ‘an offer they can’t refuse’.
