Real Madrid were dealt a huge blow as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament, but there is one player they should not sign as they consider his replacement.
Los Blancos look set to dip into the transfer market to replace the Belgian, who could be sidelined for the entire season following his injury in training yesterday.
There has been talk of signing Yassine Bounou from Sevilla, whilst there have also been links with former star Keylor Navas, Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, but another name which has come up is David De Gea.
The former Spain international is a free agent, having departed Manchester United at the end of last season, and he has reportedly been offered to the club.
On paper, a move for the 32-year-old makes some sense. He nearly joined Real Madrid during his prime years, and as a former Atletico Madrid player, he knows the city well. As a Spaniard, he will be familiar with a few Real Madrid players, and would need little time to adapt.
However, Carlo Ancelotti should steer clear of De Gea.
Real Madrid should not sign De Gea
De Gea was one of the best goalkeepers in the world in his prime years, but has struggled for the past few seasons before eventually being released by Man United.
As a goalkeeper, his shot-stopping ability is still relatively good, but it’s the rest of his game which makes him an unsuitable option.
His weakness in the air, and especially with his feet, sets him significantly far apart from Courtois, and he would not be able to replicate his dominance at set pieces.
He eventually became a liability for Man United last season, with his performance against Sevilla in the Europa League highlighting how far he has fallen from his prime. Real Madrid would not be able to rely on him for a whole season despite his experience, and they are better off looking elsewhere if they want to chase success in La Liga and the Champions League this season.