FORMER Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea posted a cryptic message on social media following the announcement of Erik ten Hag’s departure.
Ten Hag was sacked by the Red Devils today following a poor start to the season.
United currently sit 14th in the Premier League table with 11 points from nine games.
They are also struggling in the Europa League having managed just three points.
It is understood that club officials were disappointed with the lack of progression and momentum under Ten Hag.
They also believe results and performances have not been good enough over the last year.
Man Utd‘s decision to sack Ten Hag has pleased many fans.
Ex-United goalkeeper De Gea also appeared to be thrilled with the outcome.
The Spaniard posted a cryptic message on social media in the wake of today’s announcement.
He simply shared a pinched fingers emoji – which many fans believe is a sly dig towards Ten Hag.
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One person wrote: “Hahahaha David couldn’t wait. Bigger legend in my book to Man Utd than Ten Hag.”
Another said: “Elite level hater stuff, this. Have to respect it I’m sorry to say.”
While a third joked: “Not enough footballers are petty like this on social media .”
De Gea left Man Utd as a free agent in June 2023 – one year into the Dutchman’s reign.
He allegedly agreed to a new deal at Old Trafford before club officials backed out of talks.
United subsequently signed Andre Onana in a £47million transfer from Inter Milan while De Gea spent over a year without a club.
It was deemed a controversial move by many United fans, especially given the Spaniard’s loyalty to the club.
De Gea made 545 appearances during his time in Manchester and won the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League.
SunSport’s DAVE KIDD says Erik ten Hag’s time at Man Utd is up… and explains what’s wrong with all the potential candidates to replace him.
THIS is a mid-table squad at an underachieving club, with a lot of unwanted players on big money.
And Ratcliffe is an instinctive cost-cutter who may not pay top dollar to the next manager.
If this club wasn’t called ‘Manchester United’, it wouldn’t be an especially desirable job.
The good news for United is that their new sporting director, Dan Ashworth, is a very decent judge of a manager.
He has been instrumental in three previous managerial appointments — Gareth Southgate for England, Graham Potter for Brighton and Eddie Howe for Newcastle.
None were wildly popular at the time, all were conspicuous successes.
Interestingly, Ashworth’s No 1 choice for the Newcastle job was Unai Emery, who turned him down to stay at Villarreal but has since proved that judgment right by excelling at Aston Villa.
And the Spaniard would be an excellent fit for United — yet there is next to no chance that he would abandon Villa’s Champions League campaign to take the Old Trafford job, not least because he isn’t a stark raving madman.
Howe would be another good candidate to succeed Ten Hag but, although he has become frustrated on Tyneside, the Saudis would surely not allow Ratcliffe to poach Howe, as they reluctantly did with Ashworth.
Potter is available but his Chelsea experience and lack of charisma would make him a tough sell.
Which brings us to Southgate, who remains close with Ashworth and is an excellent man-manager who was seriously considered by United last spring.
Yet, despite having led England to two of their three major finals, Southgate’s reputation for over-caution was only enhanced during the Euros.
Mauricio Pochettino, passed over twice by United, is out of the equation having taken the United States job.
Thomas Tuchel would also have been a popular and gettable option – but England got in there first.
Likewise, Roberto De Zerbi, now at Marseille after his brief Brighton stint sparkled then fizzled out.
Kieran McKenna — a gifted former United coach who has won back-to-back promotions with Ipswich Town — is an intriguing candidate but the imminent vacancy may come a year or so too soon.
Marco Silva, the extremely under-rated Fulham boss, has been on United’s radar and should not be discounted.
Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim, last season’s ‘next big thing’, was passed over by West Ham as well as Liverpool this summer and is not an easy man to pin down.
Zinedine Zidane, who has taken over from Alan Curbishley as a 20-1 shot for every Premier League job, is a ‘figurehead’ manager and not an Ashworth type.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, the former United goal machine who joined Ten Hag’s coaching team in the summer is the bookies’ favourite. Simply because he’s in the building and he’s Dutch.
So, yes, getting rid of Ten Hag is the easy part.
