Former Man Utd goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar tells Reds fans it won't be the end of the world if David De Gea leaves for Real Madrid this summer.
Edwin Van der Sar believes his Manchester United successor David De Gea will be successfully replaced if the Spaniard leaves for Real Madrid.
When the Dutch number one retired four years ago Sir Alex Ferguson made the shock choice of bringing in Atletico Madrid’s 20-year-old unproven keeper as a replacement.
De Gea has risen from shaky rookie to one of the best keepers in the world and sought after by Real.
De Gea has rejected a new Old Trafford contract with just one year left in his current deal and the Spanish club are expected to succeed with an imminent £25m bid.
Losing the Reds 24-year-old saviour will leave a similar void to the one four times title winner and 2008 Champions League hero Van der Sar left.
But he doesn’t think it will plunge Louis van Gaal’s plans into crisis.
“Nobody is irreplaceable, that’s always the case,” says Edwin.
“You always start the season with 11 players on the pitch and sometimes with any new player you need a little bit of adjustment or take some time to see how the Premier League works and the different type of football, but I’m sure if David is going to leave, they are going to find a good successor.
“David had some difficulties in his first year and in his second year he came on well and in the third and fourth he really progressed immensely.”
Van der Sar hints that he expects De Gea to quit United and the name game as to his replacement is already underway.
“If he wanted to stay, he probably would have signed a new contract by now,” Edwin added.
“I don’t know if he’s staying. He came here as a young boy to United, really grew up and became a man, and has become a top quality goalkeeper, so he’s in demand.
“Then you have to ask yourself what are the criteria Louis needs for his goalkeeper? David has immense reflexes and is also good at coming out for corners. He has improved a lot there. Louis also likes a goalkeeper who can play with his feet and just behind the defence. Victor Valdes played like that at Barcelona.”
One name on the potential wanted list is Ajax’s Jasper Cillessen who was Van Gaal’s Holland keeper at last summer’s World Cup in Brazil.
Van der Sar is now a director at Ajax and hopes the Reds look elsewhere.
“I hope United aren’t getting him! Luckily I have some influence on that part, being on the board of Ajax.
But of course, Jasper is a fantastic goalkeeper,” says Edwin.
“Like David here, he is a very reliable goalkeeper for us in Amsterdam. We would like to keep him for a while.”
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