Erik ten Hag is set to let David de Gea leave Manchester United this summer, highlighting Jose Mourinho's previous comments regarding the Spaniard.
In 2021, De Gea's former United boss Mourinho questioned United's decision to hand the goalkeeper a new contract, with a £375,000 per week agreement signed in 2019. De Gea is still the club's highest paid player, but was not on the club's retained list, which indicates that a new deal is not on the table.
This means that De Gea is set to leave the club having been first-choice for 12 years, with a number of high-profile errors this season. Despite winning the Premier League Golden Glove award, Ten Hag is set to part ways with the player, with his enormous wages freeing up space on the club's wage bill.
However, the club were warned that the deal had been a bad idea, with Mourinho branding de Gea 'lucky' to be rewarded with such a high wage. He said: "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.
Mourinho worked with de Gea during his time at United, with the Portuguese manager finishing second in the Premier League during the 2017/18 season. De Gea won the Golden Glove that season, before signing a new four year deal a year later following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's arrival at the club.
Last month, Ten Hag had hinted that the intention was for de Gea to stay, saying: “I think we want him to stay and he wants to stay, so I think we will find each other.”
However, with the club's most recent communication it appears that an agreement has not been reached and the 32-year-old will leave the club as a result.
However, high-profile errors have been combined with poor distribution, with ten Hag's style of play seemingly incompatible with de Gea. United return to the Champions League next season, with the former Ajax manager outlining his transfer wishes ahead of the summer, and de Gea's departure now appears to be part of a summer overhaul.
Speaking after United qualified for the Champions League last month, ten Hag said: “We can still improve with this squad, as we did this season. That's the job I have to do with my coaching staff. We made huge progress, many individuals made progress. Now we have a good base.
“I think there's still a lot of room for improvement with this squad, but when you get the right players, it will give you more depth and a better standard. Then you have more chances to be in the top four and more chances to win titles and trophies.”
