Published
on September 16, 2022
Manchester United goalkeeper, David de Gea has revealed how he was close to joining Wigan Athletic.
Wigan, currently in the English Championship, tried to sign the Spanish number one goalkeeper in 2009 when they were still in the Premier League.
At that time, the 2013 FA Cup winners were managed by now Belgium national team coach, Roberto Martinez.
De Gea said he almost moved there just 18 months before joining United.
But the then 18-year-old De Gea decided to stay at Atletico Madrid despite struggling for game time after making his debut.
He later established himself as Atletico’s No.1 before he joined Sir Alex Ferguson’s United in 2011.
“I was in Atletico and it was the same season I made my debut,” De Gea, who now has 45 caps for Spain, told BT Sport’s What I Wore.
“I was like the third keeper and did not even count for the team much, just training. Nothing else.
“So Wigan got in contact with me just to sign for them and I was very, very close to signing for Wigan.”
