• Premier League

De Gea: I'm still United No. 1

ESPN staff
January 24, 2013
David De Gea insists he is still top dog at Old Trafford © PA Photos
Enlarge

Fulham's FA Cup fourth round trip to Manchester United is live on ESPN this weekend. Click for details on how to subscribe

David De Gea insists he is still Manchester United's first-choice keeper despite rumours that he could be on his way out of Old Trafford in the summer.

Reports emerged on Wednesday that United are willing to listen to offers for the Spaniard, who came in for criticism at the weekend after his weak punch allowed Tottenham to grab a late leveller at White Hart Lane.

De Gea has been mentioned as a potential successor to Victor Valdes at Barcelona in a rumoured swap deal, while Real Madrid keeper Iker Casillas has also been linked with a move to United.

An £18.5 million signing for Atletico Madrid in 2011, De Gea is set to be dropped to the bench in favour of Anders Lindegaard for United's FA Cup fourth-round clash against Fulham this weekend.

But while he stresses the importance of having a run of games, De Gea is happy with Sir Alex Ferguson's policy of squad rotation and stresses he still considers himself the first-choice stopper at Old Trafford.

"From the moment I signed I considered myself the first-choice keeper at the club but it's down to the manager," De Gea was quoted as saying in the Daily Mirror. "He rotates us when he feels it's good for the team.

"But obviously I've played a few on the bounce now and that's positive. For a goalkeeper it's always important to have consistency and to be playing regularly. It's good for confidence and morale."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices