Ex-Man Utd coach reveals the two players Sir Alex Ferguson wanted to sign instead of David de Gea.

David de Gea was chosen by Sir Alex Ferguson as the ideal candidate to take over the goalkeeping duties at Manchester United from Edwin van der Sar. This revelation was made by United's former goalkeeping coach Eric Steele, who disclosed that Ferguson decided to sign de Gea over the likes of Manuel Neuer and Hugo Lloris. It was 2011 and United were in the market for a new goalkeeper after van der Sar's retirement. They eventually secured the services of de Gea in a record-breaking deal worth £18.9 million from Atletico Madrid. This made de Gea the second most expensive goalkeeper at the time, only behind Gianluigi Buffon who had joined Juventus for £32.6 million in 2001. Steele, who was part of Ferguson's coaching staff at Old Trafford, had the task of scouting potential replacements for van der Sar. He revealed that he had watched de Gea play live on 17 occasions before recommending him to Ferguson. Steele also mentioned that he had scouted other top goalkeepers in Europe such as Lloris and Stekelenburg. In order to keep the transfer plans confidential, Steele and his colleague Alan Hodgkinson had to be discreet during their scouting trips. However, it wasn't easy as they were often recognized at airports. Steele recalled an incident where he was watching de Gea play against Liverpool in the semi-final of the Europa League. He was impressed by de Gea's save early in the game and knew immediately that he was the right fit for United. Steele went on to explain that they had narrowed down the options to Lloris, Neuer, and de Gea. It was ultimately Ferguson's decision and he trusted Steele's judgement. The legendary manager had admitted to Steele that he had struggled in the past with finding a successor for Peter Schmeichel and van der Sar. But this time, he put his faith in Steele and it paid off as de Gea went on to make 545 appearances for United before leaving in 2023. Steele's interview on the Talk of the Devils podcast sheds light on the behind-the-scenes process of signing de Gea and highlights the trust and confidence Ferguson had in his coaching staff. It also showcases the importance of having a dedicated and knowledgeable goalkeeping coach in a top football club.