Manchester United icon Gary Neville has described his disbelief at how the club didn’t seriously consider signing one player – who has since gone on to star for Arsenal – when they had the opportunity
Gary Neville was left at a loose end when he was told Manchester United wouldn’t sign David Raya because he’s « not good enough with his feet. » And that belief might have played a key role in taking United on their merry-go-round of goalkeepers in recent years.
The Red Devils turned to Royal Antwerp stopper Senne Lammens on deadline day for an initial £18million. And Ruben Amorim will hope the 23-year-old Belgian can put an end to their woes between the posts after Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir have continued the succession of calamitous keeping.
It’s become a prerequisite for many managers today that their goalkeepers come equipped with the ability to comfortably play the ball out from the back. And it seems United had that preference in mind when it came to supposedly snubbing Raya.
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« I’d mentioned Raya to someone at United, » said former England right-back Neville on The Overlap’s Stick to Football, brought to you by Sky Bet. « I’d watched him quite a bit for Brentford [and] thought he looked a good goalkeeper.
« And they said, ‘Oh, he’s not good enough with his feet.’ The person I’d spoke to at United at the time…I remember thinking, ‘I’ve watched Raya a lot. He’s pretty good.’ And you’re thinking, ‘He saves a lot of shots, quite good at dominating his box, he’s quite brave.’ And [Neville’s contact] said, ‘No, he’s not good enough with his feet.' »
Some fans were left scratching their heads when Arsenal decided to sign Raya from Brentford in 2023, as Aaron Ramsdale didn’t have too many detractors at the time. The Spaniard initially moved to the Emirates on loan, with the option to make the deal permanent for £27m, which Arsenal triggered 12 months later.
Despite some early wobbles following his move to north London, Arsenal have been largely vindicated in their transfer decision. And many fans would likely agree Raya’s ball-playing ability often looks like one of his strengths, never mind a weakness.
« It was the groundsman he [Neville] was talking to, » joked fellow United legend Roy Keane as the Overlap crew burst out laughing.
Arsenal icon Ian Wright also couldn’t believe the criticism supposedly coming from someone in a place of privilege at Old Trafford.
The anecdote serves to illustrate just how ill-advised some ‘expert’ minds can be, even at clubs with the profile and magnitude of United. But the Red Devils will hope to have finally cracked the code with up-and-coming Belgian talent Lammens.
It’s worth highlighting part of the reason David De Gea was moved on from the club was because some felt his feet and composure under pressure wasn’t up to scratch. However, successors Onana and Bayindir have each displayed their own glaring weaknesses this season alone.
Meanwhile, Raya was somewhat embarrassed after conceding a 35-yard free-kick to Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai on Sunday. And that was all the ammunition Neville needed to dub the Gunners the « same old Arsenal » after losing another crucial clash in the title race.
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