Jose Mourinho says De Gea was 'lucky' to sign a new deal at Man United after error-strewn season

‘Who is going to pay David these numbers?’: Jose Mourinho says his former goalkeeper De Gea was ‘lucky’ to sign new deal at Manchester United last year after error-strewn season as pressure mounts on Spaniard

  • David de Gea added to his season of gaffes after a howler in the FA Cup semis 
  • The United goalkeeper was at fault for Chelsea second goal at Wembley Stadium
  • His side were dumped out of the cup as they fell to a 3-0 loss against the Blues  
  • His ex-manager Jose Mourinho believes he was lucky to sign a new deal last year
  • The Sours boss believes the Spaniard had the world at his feet a few years ago 

Jose Mourinho says under-fire Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea was ‘lucky’ to sign a new four-year deal last summer.

The Spaniard is enduring a tough season after a number of high-profile errors at Old Trafford – the latest coming in the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea as he failed to keep out Mason Mount’s shot in their 3-0 loss.

There have been calls for De Gea to be dropped with Dean Henderson impressing at Sheffield United on loan in this campaign. Mourinho, who worked with him for more than two years at United, feels the club offered him new terms when Europe’s elite no longer needed a new goalkeeper. 

David de Gea made a high profile error in United's 3-0 loss to Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final

David de Gea made a high profile error in United’s 3-0 loss to Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final

His former manager Jose Mourinho feels he was 'lucky' to sign a new contract last year

His former manager Jose Mourinho feels he was ‘lucky’ to sign a new contract last year 

‘De Gea? I think the moment when he signed his huge contract, is the moment I don’t think United needs to pay as much as that to have him,’ Mourinho told Sky Sports, via the Mirror.

‘One or two years ago he had the world after him, in this moment, the majority of the big doors were closed.

‘The Real Madrid door is closed, they don’t need a goalkeeper after [Thibaut] Courtois. Barcelona is closed with young and fantastic [Marc-Andre] ter Stegen and Paris Saint-Germain is closed too as they signed Keylor Navas who is a very good goalkeeper.’

The Spaniard was easily beaten at Wembley Stadium as he allowed Mason Mount to score

The Spaniard was easily beaten at Wembley Stadium as he allowed Mason Mount to score

De Gea was on the verge a move to Madrid in 2015 before his big-money move to the Bernabeu collapsed at the last minute on Deadline Day due to a fault with a fax machine. 

At the time he was considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world, but Mourinho feels there was no ‘pressure’ of a big transfer, which led to De Gea getting a ‘phenomenal’ deal.  

‘I don’t see the pressure,’ he continued. ‘Who is going to pay David these numbers? (De Gea) gets a phenomenal contract in a moment where he’s a bit lucky to get it. Is he good? Yes, he’s very good.

‘David is much better on the line than coming out. I think in goal, his agility and technical level is second to none.’

source: dailymail.co.uk