Benni McCarthy sends stern David de Gea warning to Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag

Manchester United coach Benni McCarthy has attempted to warn manager Erik ten Hag off axing David de Gea this summer. The Spaniard is approaching the end of his Red Devils contract, and while some believe the club would be best served to move on, McCarthy and Casemiro are among those fighting his corner.

De Gea remains a divisive figure among United’s fanbase. The 32-year-old is still an elite-level shot-stopper, but his lack of ability in possession sets him apart from the world’s top goalkeepers.

A number of shaky performances in 2022/23 distracted from a surprise Golden Glove win, as De Gea kept more clean sheets in the Premier League than any other stopper. The United veteran has support from a number of key team-mates including Casemiro, who left a note reading ‘I love you d******d’ in the dressing room earlier this year.

But De Gea was the subject of fresh criticism last weekend when he allowed Ilkay Gundogan’s winner to creep in at his near post in the FA Cup final.

Ten Hag has publicly claimed that his No 1 spot between the sticks is far from assured. And while it is believed that the terms of a new deal have been agreed, it is yet to be signed off by all required parties.

As supporters wait for concrete news one way or the other, McCarthy has made his feelings known by claiming it would be a ‘crime’ for the Red Devils to let their long-serving goalkeeper leave for free this summer, which would also risk upsetting De Gea’s good friend Casemiro.

“When you spend every single day with a certain player, I get to see first hand more than what most people get to do. You only see him on a Saturday or on a matchday, and if you see a player make a mistake, [fans] yelling at him, the critics hit the roof.

“But I get to spend every single day with him and he is an unbelievable guy, a great lad, very intelligent and one of the best goalkeepers I have seen. It would be a crime if Man United lose a goalkeeper like David de Gea.”