What has been rumored for weeks was confirmed on Tuesday as Atletico Madrid confirmed that they have agreed to a transfer with Manchester United for David de Gea. While Atletico did not release the transfer fee, it is believed that Manchester United met the €20 million release clause in his contract. The last hurdle to be completed before de Gea can join the Red Devils is the goalkeeper agreeing to personal terms with the English Premier League club.
De Gea will be the Red Devils' replacement for Edwin van der Sar, who is retiring at season's end after spending the last six year's as one of the league's best keepers for United. The Red Devils thought that Ben Foster might be the man to replace van der Sar when the Dutchman retired, but Sir Alex Ferguson lost faith in Foster and sold him to Birmingham City last summer. That left a huge question mark for the future of the club, one only exacerbated when van der Sar announced in the fall that this would be his last season.
The signing of de Gea does not only fill United's hole for the upcoming season, but also secures the future of the position. De Gea is only 20 years old and made his UEFA Champions League and La Liga debut before he turned 19. As a 19-year-old, de Gea was included on Spain's provisional 30-man roster for the 2010 World Cup, although he did not make the final team. A strong 2010-2011 season only increased de Gea's value and he is now considered by some to be the top young goalkeeper in the world. Now if his personal terms are sorted out, he will make that title with him to Manchester.
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