David De Gea would be wrong to swap United adulation for Madrid circus
How many clubs have fans that chant the name of their goalkeeper on a weekly basis?
David De Gea seems to be on his own when it comes to a goalkeeper being hailed as a hero by supporters.
It's not as if having a world class goalkeeper is unknown to the Old Trafford crowd though.
In the Premier League era, Manchester United have seen some of the greatest goalkeepers the game has ever known in the likes of Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar yet the fans were fairly indifferent towards them.
They both won the Champions League at United, with Van der Sar even making the penalty save in the 2008 final against Nicolas Anelka to secure the trophy against Chelsea, yet neither received anything like the adulation De Gea gets. That's not to say they were not appreciated but that gratitude was rarely voiced inside the stadium.
The exception to this came in Van der Sar's final year at the club, with him announcing in January 2011 that he would not be there the following season. His last game at Old Trafford was the 4-2 victory over Blackpool, having won the title three weeks earlier.
"Edwin, van der Sar, Edwin, Edwin, Van der Sar," United supporters sang on repeat, followed by "one more year, one more year, one more year."
Their pleas for him to stay on were ignored though and Van der Sar, wearing the captain's armband that day, bid an emotional goodbye.
Their pleas for him to stay on were ignored though and Van der Sar, wearing the captain's armband that day, bid an emotional goodbye.
De Gea's start to life at United was different to Van der Sar and Schmeichel and the Spaniard was unprepared for the physical nature of the Premier League when he arrived. Rival fans chanted "dodgy keeper" at him but the more he was berated, the greater the affection he was shown by United supporters.
Siege mentality kicked in and they took him in as one of their own, showing up at matches with the Spanish national flag and singing his name. It was clear to see that this skinny 20-year-old had bags of ability but he needed time to adjust.
Still only 24, he's now the best goalkeeper in the league, having just been named on the shortlist for PFA Player and Young Player of the Year, and one of the best in the world. United fans are desperate to cling on to him, which goes some way to explain why he has been received differently to the great goalkeepers before him.
Schmeichel was 27 when he joined and Van der Sar was 34, so there were no worries about them leaving the club for the peak of their career.
Both of them were vitally important to the club's repeated success but there was no need for the fans to beg them to stay. These goalkeepers were up there with the best players in the world in their position while United could provide them with silverware most seasons. The club and players were on equal footing. There seemed to be no reason to single them out for praise even if they deserved it.
This year United's position in the top four has had a huge question mark over it. De Gea has saved them time and again though, preventing so many chances that looked to be certain goals. For much of the past two years, United have been punching above their weight in possessing a goalkeeper as talented as him and the supporters know it.
Throughout this time, De Gea has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, with the keeper still not extending his current deal at United. If he doesn't sign a new contract at Old Trafford he will eligible to talk to foreign clubs next January, with the view to join them on a free transfer next summer.
But will the grass be greener for him in Spain? While Real Madrid's star players Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo get booed and chased to their car after matches, De Gea has a Godlike status at United.
His name is chanted after every save he makes. Before every game, the Stretford End are on their feet applauding him as he takes his place in goal. Banners with "Dave Saves" and "Everywhere you go, always take De Gea with you" are on display. There's no chance of that sort of support at the Bernabeu.
With the worship of the fans, encouragement of his family and support of his friends, what else could be holding De Gea back from extending his deal? Champions League football.
United's position in the top four looks fairly safe for now but it's not confirmed. After being denied a year of football in Europe's elite competition, he is entitled to not commit himself to a club that can't match his aspirations.
There is no way that a player of his quality should forego playing in the Champions League for two years running, particularly when a whole host of clubs would be willing to offer it to him.
Most of his teammates have had years of playing in this competition but the same can't be said of De Gea. He experienced Europa League glory with Atletico Madrid but made just one appearance for them in the Champions League.
Since signing for United, he has made just 21 appearances in the competition. For the sake of comparison, Wayne Rooney had 49 by the time he was De Gea's age.
Once United's position in the top four and has been cemented, then you would presume De Gea will sit down with the club and put pen to paper.
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti confirmed this week that Iker Casillas wants to stay and the club wants him to stay too, which goes some way to dispelling the rumours linking De Gea with an empty space in their squad.
Whether Casillas is there or not, you would imagine De Gea will be a United player next season on a new deal, unless the club is interested in using him as bait to land Ronaldo or Bale.
After the trouble United had in finding a suitable replacement for Schmeichel and how patient the fans have been in watching De Gea develop from a scrawny youngster in to one of the world's finest, the club would be foolish to let this keeper slip through their hands.
"Proud to be a red, proud of these fans" De Gea tweeted on after United's 4-2 win over Manchester City last week. Proud enough to commit his future to the club? He should be.
United will mount a title challenge if he's in goal next season and the fans will continue to worship him -- which is one of the few things that Real Madrid cannot offer.
