David de Gea has labelled recent speculation over his Manchester United future as a “distraction” after manager Jose Mourinho admitted he was “not confident” that the goalkeeper would renew his contract at the club.
The Spaniard’s current Old Trafford deal expires this summer, though it contains a one-year extension clause that can be triggered by the club.
United opened negotiations with De Gea’s representatives earlier this year and will extend the goalkeeper’s existing terms if no agreement is reached.
Player ratings: Manchester United vs Juventus
1/22 David De Gea – 7
2/22 Ashley Young – 6
3/22 Chris Smalling – 5
4/22 Victor Lindelof – 7
5/22 Luke Shaw – 6
6/22 Nemanja Matic – 5
7/22 Juan Mata – 5
8/22 Paul Pogba – 6
9/22 Marcus Rashford – 6
10/22 Anthony Martial – 6
11/22 Romelu Lukaku – 5
12/22 Wojciech Szczęsny – 6
13/22 Joao Cancelo – 6
14/22 Leonardo Bonucci – 7
15/22 Giorgio Chiellini – 7
16/22 Alex Sandro – 6
17/22 Juan Cuadrado – 6
18/22 Rodrigo Bentancur – 6
19/22 Miralem Pjanic – 6
20/22 Blaise Matuidi – 6
21/22 Cristiano Ronaldo – 7
22/22 Paulo Dybala – 8
1/22 David De Gea – 7
2/22 Ashley Young – 6
3/22 Chris Smalling – 5
4/22 Victor Lindelof – 7
5/22 Luke Shaw – 6
6/22 Nemanja Matic – 5
7/22 Juan Mata – 5
8/22 Paul Pogba – 6
9/22 Marcus Rashford – 6
10/22 Anthony Martial – 6
11/22 Romelu Lukaku – 5
12/22 Wojciech Szczęsny – 6
13/22 Joao Cancelo – 6
14/22 Leonardo Bonucci – 7
15/22 Giorgio Chiellini – 7
16/22 Alex Sandro – 6
17/22 Juan Cuadrado – 6
18/22 Rodrigo Bentancur – 6
19/22 Miralem Pjanic – 6
20/22 Blaise Matuidi – 6
21/22 Cristiano Ronaldo – 7
22/22 Paulo Dybala – 8
The club would then be faced with either cashing in on De Gea or losing him on a free transfer in 2020.
After Mourinho claimed on Friday that he is not certain the 27-year-old will sign a new deal, De Gea insisted his only focus was on “winning games” with United while dismissing speculation over his contract situation as a “distraction”.
“What matters is the team and all of us being focused on what we need to focus on, which is winning games, rather than contracts or any topics that can be a distraction,” he told Sky Sports. “What matters is focusing on football.
“We have an important game against Everton and we have some big fixtures over the coming months. I think that’s what matters, rather than thinking about anything else.”
Amid reports he could be set to leave for Juventus on a free transfer once his contract expires, De Gea said he remains happy at Old Trafford.
“I’ve been here for many seasons, as we’ve said,” he added. “I’ve been at the club for eight seasons now. I’m very happy here. I always feel that warmth from the fans and everyone who works at the club.”
This follows Mourinho’s admission that he is unsure what the future holds for his No 1 goalkeeper.
“I am not confident,” the United boss said in his Friday press conference. “But I’m not also how do you say the opposite of confident, I am not worried I am not more than worried. I cannot find the word in English, but let’s see what happens. Only the club, David and his people can answer that.
“My comment is only that everyone knows how good he is, how important he is for Manchester United and, if the club want to be better than it is and not worse, obviously it would be very important to keep David.”
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