De Gea persuaded by CR7 to join Al Nassr but refused

Sources have confirmed to 90min that David de Gea is contemplating retirement from professional football if he does not receive a suitable offer to resume his career.

The Spanish goalkeeper is currently without a club after departing from Manchester United when his contract expired in June. Although he had initially agreed to a new deal with the club, Manchester United withdrew their initial offer and failed to reach a fresh agreement.

During the summer, it was reported that Bayern Munich and Real Madrid had discussions about acquiring De Gea, but neither club ultimately made an offer to the goalkeeper

Despite receiving interest from clubs in the Saudi Pro League and Qatari Stars League, De Gea has reportedly expressed a preference to continue playing in Europe, which he has conveyed to interested parties from the Middle East.

Even though his former Manchester United teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo, has attempted to persuade him to join Al Nassr, De Gea has not changed his current stance.

De Gea’s desire to participate in Champions League football once more has led him to consider waiting until the January transfer window to make a decision about his next move.

However, if he does not receive what he deems the “right offer,” sources have indicated to 90min that retirement is a possibilities .

De Gea, who will turn 33 in November, has spent the entirety of his professional career with only two clubs, Atletico Madrid and Manchester United. He has not represented the Spain national team since 2020 and was omitted from their squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

His successor at Manchester United, Andre Onana, has faced challenges adapting to life at Old Trafford, with his most recent outing being a 4-3 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, during which he conceded a soft goal.

De Gea had faced criticism during his final season at Manchester United for his proficiency in playing from the back and with his feet, an aspect in which Onana is known to excel.