David de Gea favourite to become new Man Utd captain

Manchester United goakeeper David de Gea is the front-runner to become the new club captain ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, according to The Sun.

Harry Maguire has been United’s permanent skipper since Ashley Young’s departure in January 2020, but that could change ahead of next season.

In his first press conference, Ten Hag refused to rule out a change in captaincy, and it is now reported that De Gea is a ‘hot favourite’ to take over the leadership role from the England star.

Ten Hag will allow the first-team squad to decide the new captain. While there is no ‘rebellion’ against Maguire’s role, the players are likely to pick De Gea to show the respect and belief in him.

Our view:

Maguire’s club form over the past 12 months has been concerning. The 29-year-old has been prone to unforced and positional errors that have contributed to United losing points.

The central defender has vowed to find his best form next season, and stripping him of captaincy could have a positive effect on his performances on his playing field.

Meanwhile, De Gea has barely put a foot wrong over the past year. It has been a tremendous transformation for the Spaniard whose future with the club was under scrutiny last summer.

The £13.5 million-rated star had been guilty of multiple goalkeeping blunders in recent years, but last season saw him back at his best. He was instrumental in winning several points for United with stellar saves.

The big question is whether being captain could put unnecessary pressure on him. Our personal preference would be Ronaldo with his vast experience in the role. He has captained Portugal on 129 occasions.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com