Pundit Slams Manchester United Over De Gea Exit and Onana Signing
De Gea, who joined Manchester United in 2011 and made over 500 appearances for the club, departed at the end of his contract in 2023 after more than a decade of service.
From left to Right : Current Manchester United Goalkeeper Andre Onana and former Manchester United Goalkeeper David de Gea. Photo/Fabrizio Romano.
By Robert Assad
Manchester United’s decision to part ways with long-serving goalkeeper David de Gea and replace him with André Onana has drawn sharp criticism, with football pundit Marianella branding it “terrible decision making.”
Speaking during a post-match analysis, Marianella expressed disbelief at how the club allowed one of the best goalkeepers in the world to leave for free, only to spend a staggering €60 million on his replacement.
De Gea, who joined Manchester United in 2011 and made over 500 appearances for the club, departed at the end of his contract in 2023 after more than a decade of service.
“Manchester United had one of the BEST goalkeepers in the world, David de Gea… instead of giving him a new deal, they let him leave on a free contract,” Marianella remarked. “And they signed Onana for €60M. It’s TERRIBLE DECISION MAKING.”
De Gea’s exit came amid reports that the club had offered him a reduced contract, which was later withdrawn. The Spaniard, who had won multiple Player of the Year awards during his time at Old Trafford, left without fanfare, leaving many fans and pundits puzzled by the handling of the situation.
In contrast, Onana was brought in from Inter Milan in a big-money move intended to align with manager Erik ten Hag’s vision of building from the back with a ball-playing goalkeeper. However, Onana’s early performances at Old Trafford have come under heavy scrutiny, with high-profile errors in key matches sparking debate over whether the investment was justified.
While Onana is praised for his composure and distribution, questions remain over his shot-stopping consistency compared to De Gea’s reflex-based style. Marianella’s comments echo the growing sentiment among some fans and analysts who believe the club rushed into a high-risk change without a clear transition plan.
The situation has added to the mounting pressure on United’s leadership, with critics pointing to a series of questionable transfer decisions in recent seasons. As the club looks to rebuild and regain its place among Europe’s elite, the fallout from De Gea’s departure and Onana’s mixed start continues to fuel debate about the Red Devils’ decision-making at the top.
With results on the pitch needing to reflect the club’s ambitions, how this high-profile goalkeeping gamble plays out could be key in defining Manchester United’s trajectory in the post-De Gea era.
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