Dimitar Berbatov has explained why should keep David de Gea and Jadon Sancho at this summer.
De Gea has been as his current contract with the club is set to expire at the end of the month.
Ten Hag admitted towards the end of the season that he wanted the Spaniard to stay but there is every chance De Gea will sign for a new club this summer.
Even if De Gea does sign a contract extension at Old Trafford, United are expected to sign a new goalkeeper to provide competition for the 32-year-old or even replace him as the No. 1.
While De Gea has been a mainstay in the Manchester United team for over a decade and won the Golden Glove award last season, he has begun to receive regular criticism for high-profile mistakes and is not naturally suited to Ten Hag’s style of play.
But ex-United striker Berbatov feels De Gea deserves ‘more respect’ and hopes the goalkeeper stays at Old Trafford and proves his critics wrong next season.
‘Based on what he’s given to the club over the last decade and more, I don’t believe he gets enough credit for everything he’s done,’ Berbatov told .
‘Everybody makes mistakes and David has been one of the best goalkeepers over the past ten years.
‘It’s normal to make mistakes and I don’t believe that many people remember all the great things he’s done for Manchester United and ultimately, I don’t believe he gets enough respect.
‘I think he needs to stay and try to be better than he was last season. Everybody’s focused on whether he’s good enough at using the ball with his feet and it’s very clear that it’s an area he needs to work on, but in my opinion, he needs to stay.
‘If David and the manager decide to part ways, then there’s always that time in your career when a new challenge arises, that allows you to start again as new and it refreshes you. This could be the case, but we just have to wait to find out.’
Berbatov also wants to see Sancho at the Theatre of Dreams next term despite his underwhelming spell at Manchester United following a £70m move from Borussia Dortmund in 2021.
‘I do believe it would be premature to sell Jadon,’ the Bulgaria legend added.
‘I think he needs at least one more season at the club to prove what he can do and show everybody that he still possesses all the qualities we saw from him at Borussia Dortmund.
‘If he’s not good again next season, then it may be time to consider moving him on. He needs to prepare well for next season and he needs to have the right environment around him, on and off the pitch.
‘If his head is in the right place, then I believe he will have a good season.’
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