Barcelona face Atletico Madrid competition for Manchester United icon with 45 international caps
Source: Thehardtackle

Atletico Madrid will reportedly compete with Barcelona for the signature of 33-year-old Manchester United icon David de Gea. According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, David de Gea is the subject of interest from Atletico Madrid. The Manchester United icon is also a target for Barcelona heading into the summer transfer window. His suitors can secure his services on a free transfer, as he has been a free agent since leaving Manchester United last summer.

David de Gea and his frustrating spell as a free agent David de Gea is a bonafide Manchester United icon despite leaving the club as a free agent last summer. The Spaniard spent over a decade at the Premier League club after arriving from Atletico Madrid in a deal worth EUR25 million in July 2011.

The former Spanish international, who turned out 45 times for his country but is not in the scheme of things presently, attracted criticism in the last few years of his stint with Manchester United as he had become error-prone and could not build play from the back.

So, Manchester United chose not to hand de Gea a new contract last summer, with his deal expiring on July 1, 2023. Since then, several clubs have shown interest in the 33-year-old, with recent reports also linking him with Arsenal. However, a return to La Liga might be on the cards, with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid interested in him.

Will de Gea join a club this summer? Widespread reports have heavily linked David de Gea with Barcelona for several months. However, a move has never materialised, although with Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Inaki Pena facing an uncertain future at the club, the Manchester United icon is a viable target despite his shortcomings on the ball.

As for Atletico Madrid, the Colchoneros have joined the race to sign the 45-cap Spanish international. Widespread reports have claimed that Jan Oblak faces an uncertain future at the Civitas Metropolitano, with a summer departure on the cards. So, Atletico Madrid might re-sign de Gea in the summer transfer window.

Other European clubs have also shown interest in the former Manchester United goalkeeper, with Saudi Pro League outfits keen as well. It will be interesting to see if de Gea returns to action in the 2024/25 season.