De Gea leaves Man Utd after 12 years

MANCHESTER: David de Gea announced his exit from Manchester United on Saturday (Jul 8) after 12 years as the club's number one goalkeeper.

The Spaniard last season overtook Peter Schmeichel to record the most clean sheets in the club's history and was crowned players' and fans' player of the year four times.

But a string of high-profile errors towards the end of the campaign drew criticism and the 32-year-old struggled to adapt to manager Erik ten Hag's preferred style of playing out from the back.

In a message on social media, De Gea thanked United fans for their support, but said: "Now, it's the right time to undertake a new challenge, to push myself again in new surroundings.

"Manchester will always be in my heart, Manchester has shaped me and will never leave me."

De Gea's deal expired at the end of June, with reports the player had agreed a contract extension only for the club to withdraw that offer and come back with reduced terms.

The Red Devils are now set to move for Inter Milan keeper Andre Onana, who previously played under Ten Hag at Ajax.

"You deserved to say goodbye to the stadium with all the fans cheering you for all the beautiful memories," United midfielder Bruno Fernandes posted on Instagram.

"You made history at the club and your name will never be forgotten, and that no one can take away from you."

De Gea made 545 appearances and kept 190 clean sheets after being signed by Alex Ferguson in 2011.

His departure means there are no players left at Old Trafford who have won the Premier League -- the last title success was in Ferguson's final season in charge, in 2012/13.

De Gea also won the FA Cup in 2016, two League Cups and the Europa League.

The former Atletico Madrid stopper often shone despite United's long