Red Rants

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Spanish Dave hits back Posted: 22 Nov 2013 02:30 AM PST David De Gea has hit back at the critics who had labelled him a liability during his first seasons at the club, when the Spaniard was heavily criticised for failing to cut an assured figure in goal and being to prone to committing costly mistakes. As United regained the Premier League title last season, however, De Gea emerged as a crucial figure in the squad, proving that despite being just 23-year-old, he can already be considered one of the best shot stoppers in the world and definitely one of the best in the Premier League. “If I am honest, yes (the criticism was unfair). “I was very young and I had arrived at a new club from another country,” said the Spaniard in an interview, published today. “I was learning a whole new language, I was adapting to a new style of football and new team-mates.” After failing to secure a regular starting spot during his first six months of his career at Old Trafford, when him and Anders Lindegaard were often rotated, last season De Gea performed admirably throughout the campaign, producing heroic displays away at Chelsea and Real Madrid. This season, despite conceding more than he would have liked, the Spaniard has been one of the few positives amid United’s stuttering start to the campaign and has emerged as a potential target for Barcelona, as the Catalan club looks to replace Victor Valdes, who’s set to depart the Camp Nou in the summer. “That’s a lot to take in and it’s natural that it will take a little bit of time to settle,” explained De Gea, who’s been an ever-present figure in United’s Premier League campaign so far this season. “It wasn’t easy hearing this criticism but I tried to use it to motivate me and make me stronger. “I think I have improved as a goalkeeper because of it, actually. “I like to think that from bad things you can derive good results.” Those who laughed at De Gea, while hailing the infallible Joe Hart must have been gorging on humble pie over the last few months. Dan Follow @mufc_dan87

United face competition for transfer target Posted: 22 Nov 2013 12:27 AM PST Manchester United could face competition from Napoli in the race to sign Benfica defender Ezequiel Garay, after Rafael Benitez has declared his intention to embark on a spending spree in January and has made strengthening his club’s back four a priority. United have been following Garay for almost 18 months now, with first Sir Alex Ferguson and now David Moyes having identified the Argentine defender as one of the players needed to shore up a back four in which Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand are nearing the end of their careers. Reports suggest that United were happy to wait until the end of the season before making a formal move for the 27-year-old but, having watched on as Napoli increased their interest over the last couple of weeks, Moyes might be forced to act earlier than he would have thought, if he is not to miss out on yet another transfer target. With Ferdinand yet to be offered a new contract, the chances of the United manager tabling an offer for the Benfica defender seem increasingly likely, particularly as Garay’s £17m release clause is unlikely to discourage Moyes, who can’t afford to dither in the transfer window after the dismal summer him and the club endured. Garay, meanwhile, isn’t the only Argentina international to be linked with a move to Old Trafford as reports on one of today’s paper suggest United are closely monitoring Valencia’s Ever Banega, who could be the latest casualty of his club’s strict financial regime, which has seen them part ways with Roberto Soldado and Juan Mata over the last couple of seasons. The 25-year-old is an extremely versatile midfielder and has often been deployed just in front of the back four for club and country, even though he’s just at ease when played further up the pitch as attacking midfielder. The Argentine, who has scored once and assisted five goals in 12 appearances in all competitions so far this season, was watched three times by United’s scouts over the last couple of weeks, as Moyes hopes to beat Juventus, Southampton and Arsenal in the race to sign the Valencia midfielder. Banega has already told his club that he will not extend his current deal, which expires in 2015, but Valencia are adamant that they’ll manage to hold on to their man until the summer, when they could be forced to accept a smaller fee than the £50m Banega’s release clause is set at, as the La Liga club face huge financial restrictions.

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