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| Keylor Navas would have moved to Manchester United as part of the De Gea deal |
AS Manchester United and Real Madrid launched into a bitter blame game over the collapse of David de Gea’s transfer, the big question is what now for the player?
If Louis van Gaal thought the Spaniard was distracted enough by the transfer speculation to leave him out of United’s opening six games, then it is not hard to guess his mood and attitude will not have improved when he returns from the international break with his dream move in tatters.
He is said to be "distraught" by the dramatic turn of events on Monday night.
Van Gaal now faces a huge test of his man-management skills. Allowing De Gea to stew for months over the collapse of his transfer is no good for either the player or United, especially given that there are serious misgivings about Sergio Romero’s ability to be the club’s No 1 goalkeeper.
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| David de Gea now faces a tricky period at Manchester United |
Argentina international Romero was barely tested in the opening five games when he kept four clean sheets but raised eyebrows over some of his wayward kicking.
There is no doubt however that he could have done better with both the goals he conceded in the defeat at Swansea on Sunday. And it will no doubt have crossed Van Gaal’s mind that De Gea would have saved both efforts.
Real will no doubt be back in for De Gea when the January transfer window opens and they could sign him for a reduced fee because he would have only six months left on his contract. Or they could wait until next summer when he will become a free agent. In the meantime, Van Gaal has the task of getting De Gea back on board.
He will hope he is picked for Spain’s two internationals matches against Slovakia and Macedonia to improve his match sharpness and help get him over the disappointment of the transfer fiasco.
He and his coaching staff will monitor those two games to see how De Gea performs and then sit down for clear-the-air talks with him on his return to United’s training complex next week.
Providing De Gea says he is mentally and physically ready to play for United and backs that up with impressive performances in training, there is a strong case for Van Gaal to put him back into the team for the visit of old foes Liverpool a week on Saturday.
What better way of helping the player overcome the trauma of the last few days?
It would be a gamble because if he makes a mistake, then the transfer fiasco will be used as the stick to beat him with. But if he regains last season’s spectacular form then it the gamble will have paid off and all will be forgiven, if not forgotten.
But Van Gaal also has to take into account the dressing room dynamic. Will De Gea’s team-mates feel any resentment if he regains his place in the team after being so keen to quit the club? Also how will United fans respond to the dramatic fall from grace of a man they voted the club’s player of the year in the last two seasons.
There are some precedents of players being on the brink of leaving and coming back to play successfully for the club. Cristiano Ronaldo wanted to leave when Real came knocking in 2008 but Sir Alex Ferguson persuaded him to stay for one more year and his performances didn’t dip.
Wayne Rooney twice wanted to leave – in the autumn of 2010 and the summer of 2013 – but on both occasions was talked round and ended up with a fat new contract and being made captain.
Across town at Manchester City, Carlos Tevez went on strike for five months but was forgiven and returned to help them win the League title in 2012.
Van Gaal will pray that De Gea wants to play and give 100 per cent, not only for his team-mates but for his own pride and professionalism. On top of that, he needs regular football to retain his place for Spain ahead of Euro 2016 next summer.
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