It shouldn’t really end like this, but it’s beginning to look increasingly likely that David de Gea’s 12-year association with Manchester United will come to an end in the next two weeks.
Rather than the send-off a player with 545 appearances - putting him seventh on the all-time list - deserves, De Gea’s time at United could be signed off with a club statement and a few social media tributes.
The 32-year-old’s contract expires on June 30 and the chances of an extension being agreed have plummeted in recent weeks. Talks have continued to take place but there has been no firm offer for the Spaniard.
For much of this season it had looked like a formality that United and De Gea would come to an agreement to extend his stay, albeit on a salary much reduced from his current package of £375,000-a-week.