He has been a mainstay in the Manchester United goal for more than a decade, but is David de Gea’s Old Trafford future now in the balance?
The Spaniard made a horrendous mistake to gift Said Benrahma a goal that proved to be the winner for West Ham on Sunday, damaging the Red Devils’ hopes of finishing in the Premier League’s top four in the process.
The 32-year-old has now made four errors leading to a goal in all competitions this season, the joint most of any Premier League player, along with Hugo Lloris.
In February De Gea said contract talks at Old Trafford would “end in a good way” and he was “enjoying it” – but for many fans and pundits this may be one mistake too many.
“If he’s in contract negotiations, making mistakes like that is never going to help,” former Liverpool, Tottenham and Stoke striker Peter Crouch told BT Sport.
“He’s been a top-class goalkeeper over the years, but at the moment it feels like he’s making big errors in big, big games.
“David de Gea has had a shocker, we can’t dress it up. You can’t justify it at all, it’s a terrible mistake.”
Former Newcastle and Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas was equally critical, telling BT Sport: “That’s beyond shocking. His team is in full control of this game and to let one in like that. He’ll know himself.”
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand added: “It’s a bad mistake. He will take full responsibility for that.
“His left foot does slip slightly but that’s no excuse, he’s got full contact on the ball. It’s not like he is stretching and getting fingertips on it.”