Former Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand has admitted that he is "a little bit gutted" by how the Red Devils have treated David de Gea in recent months.
The long-serving goalkeeper's contract at Old Trafford is due to expire on Saturday, and as it stands, he will be leaving the club on a free transfer.
De Gea is believed to have recently agreed to a new deal, which would have seen him take a huge salary reduction, only for Man United to withdraw the offer and place a new one, with a lower wage, on the table.
The Spaniard hinted at frustration with his situation earlier this week, and Ferdinand has claimed that the 32-year-old deserves better due to his service over the last 12 years.
"It's a funny situation. Whether you think David de Gea is good enough for Manchester United anymore is up for debate," Ferdinand said on his FIVE YouTube channel.
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"But he's been an unreal servant to this football club. 12 years he's been at this club, similar to what I was at this club. Player of the year, four or five times in that time been phenomenal.
"At times, he's been the best player at the club. And in a few of those years, had moments where it didn't go well. Lost a bit of form at times. Maybe lost confidence, but, in the main, served the club remarkably well. He's an outstanding professional.
"He's never brought the club an ounce of trouble. Never brought the club into disrepute. He's an outstanding professional and a great character. He's one of the boys. There's a lot of people calling for him to leave. They want to go and get a new goalkeeper and evolve that position. That's all understandable and fair. Everyone's entitled to an opinion.
"Erik ten Hag, at the end of the day, has a certain type of goalkeeper that he wants and if David de Gea isn't that goalkeeper than David De Gea has to hold his hands up and say you know what, I've had a great run here, I love it here but if the manager doesn't want me I've got to go or I'm going to be number two.
"I'm just a little bit gutted with how the club have handled this. It comes down to communication. I think Manchester United need to learn from this. They have made mistakes before with big players leaving the club in the past.
'Big players have left the club feeling like they've not been treated well. No one has the divine right to leave a club on their own terms but you want your players - especially the ones that have been there a long time and served the club well - to leave with a nice taste in their mouth.
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"They'll be disappointed they're leaving the club as no one wants to leave the club that they've grown to love, but I'm seeing more and more players leave with a sour taste and it's not right.
"I don't think it's fair on the player. All it comes down to is communication. A little bit of appreciation. A little bit of understanding. Thinking you know what, we probably need to do this a little bit better.
"You owe it to a player that has been there that long to ensure they leave the club on half decent terms at least. David must be sitting there and thinking, "I never dreamed that I would leave the club in this way, in this manner." I look at it now and how does David de Gea stay?
"The only way he stays is if United can't get [Andre] Onana or whichever goalkeeper they go for. It would be difficult for him though because he'll be looking at the club in a different light. It was love before, maybe it's business now. It's disappointing and I hope it gets sorted out, for David and the club's sake."
De Gea has made 545 appearances for Man United since arriving from Atletico Madrid in 2011, including 58 outings during the 2022-23 campaign, and he won the Golden Glove in the Premier League last term, having kept 17 clean sheets in the competition.
