It seems Jose Mourinho might know what he's talking about - after the former Manchester United manager detailed concerns about David de Gea three years ago.
While 'The Special One' focuses on trying to win the Europa League with Roma, the Red Devils have much to ponder as they battle to qualify for the Champions League.
And one much-talked-about topic is the future of De Gea, whose glaring error cost United dear in their 1-0 defeat at West Ham on Sunday. The 32-year-old is keen to stay at Old Trafford, but a proposed pay cut of his current 375,000-a-week-wages is proving a thaw in negotiations.
The Spaniard is in the last of those four years, which made him the club's highest earner when he put pen to paper in 2019. And a little over a year after he signed on for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Mourinho delivered a blunt assessment of the numbers involved back in 2020.
By then in charge of Tottenham, the Portuguese did his customary stirring in an interview with Sky Sports, after De Gea had turned in a horror show as United were beaten in the FA Cup semi final by Chelsea:"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," he said.
"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."
De Gea had arguably been at his mercurial best during the early stages of Mourinho's reign at United, after he took over ahead of the 2016/17 campaign. And whilst the now 60-year-old did acknowledge the Spanish stopper was still a force, he also implied he'd been very fortunate.
"I don't see the pressure. Who is going to pay David these numbers?" he added. "Gets a phenomenal contract in a moment where he's a bit lucky to get it. Is he good? Yes, he's very good."
Erik ten Hag is reportedly targeting Everton keeper Jordan Pickford if De Gea does head for the exit door this summer. The club have also been linked with Porto stopper Diogo Costa.
