Manchester United former defender Rio Ferdinand feels the club will miss the services of veteran goalkeeper David de Gea in the upcoming season after parting ways with the Spaniard. De Gea left the Old Trafford-based club after his contract ended at the start of the last month.

The Spaniard had joined the Red Devils back in 2011 from Atletico de Madrid and spent a total of dozen years at the club. Manchester United signed Cameron’s goalkeeper Andre Onana after de Gea’s departure.

Meanwhile, De Gea played 545 matches for Manchester United and ticked the right boxes for the team as he registered 190 clean sheets. The custodian also won the 2012-13 Premier League title under the tutelage of Sir Alex Ferguson. The Spaniard also won the FA Cup in 2016, the Carabao Cup in 2017 and 2023 as well as the Europa League in 2017.

Rio Ferdinand told TNT Sports: “I think they’ll miss him. He’s arguably the best shot-stopper around, won the Golden Glove last year. So, I don’t think in any other era would the keeper that won the Golden Glove be relieved of his duties at a football club.”

“But the way that the game’s going now, in wanting the goalkeeper to be attached to the 10 outfield players and be a footballer now, that’s why we’re in that situation.”

On signing Andre Onana, Ferdinand continued: “They brought in a goalkeeper (Andre Onana) whose one of his best attributes is his footballing ability, the ability to play over various distances, comfortable on the ball, wants to be a part of the footballing side of the team, and that’s a huge part of what Erik ten Hag wants from his goalkeeper, so I understand that decision.”

It will be interesting to note how Manchester United will fare without having David de Gea in their ranks.

Manchester United will begin their Premier League 2023-24 campaign against Wolves on Monday night