We all knew this time would come, but maybe early February was a little earlier than many expected. Regardless, the David De Gea to Real Madrid story is in full swing, so much so that it’s on the front page of Thursday’s Marca.
The first line of Marca’s article should give Manchester United fans a good idea of where this is all heading: ‘David de Gea is again the big goal for Real Madrid goal. So much so, that the operation is already underway…’
Marca say that Zinedine Zidane is content with Keylor Navas, but he’s not against De Gea, and reports on the goalkeeper’s character have pleased the manager. He ‘fits the bill’.
warm-up laps, it was reported in Spain that an exit clause in the player’s ManchesterUnited contract ran out last summer, Marca disagree.
Marca are very vague about what it would cost, and seem to have plucked €65m from thin air, which further weakens their insinuation they can sign De Gea via a contract clause.
Of course, Marca believe the pull of Real Madrid will once again be strong, and point out that Jose Mourinho himself couldn’t resist when the club came calling for him.
The Spanish newspaper are launching this as if it were a move sequel: ‘Operacion De Gea 2’, they say first contacts have already been made and the 26 year old’s entourage know Madrid are again keen.
Whilst this all feels like typical rumour guff, it would be no surprise if there’s something behind it. Navas is good, but he’s no De Gea.
And, more to the point, the signing of the Manchester United player would remove 
what Marca call a ‘thorn’ in Florentino Perez left from the failure to get the deal over the line last time.
From De Gea’s perspective, he’s happy at Manchester United, but those wishes to return to a life in Madrid won’t simply have vanished.
That’s what Madrid would need to know is on their side before launching themselves headfirst into this, Perez won’t want to make an attempt and end up looking a fool again.
