IT'S not only Manchester United who are suffering a wretched run of seven defeats in nine games, goalkeeper, David de Gea is having his worst spell since he signed in 2011. The Spaniard, who is coming to the end of his eighth season in England – one during which he’s moved into the top 50 of United’s all-time appearance makers – has been conceding shots he would’ve saved last year. De Gea kept 18 clean sheets last season, but only seven this.

He’s conceded nine goals in the last three games while at the other end, United haven’t scored. United have conceded 50 league goals this season, more than any since 1979.

In Europe, De Gea dived over a weak Lionel Messi shot at Camp Nou – prompting mockery from watching Catalans who bowed at him. In Manchester, De Gea was beaten at his near post by Bernardo Silva and then Leroy Sane in Wednesday’s derby. He was at fault against Wolves and Everton too, although Gylfi Sigurdsson was given time to line up a shot while standing so far away from the United goal he would have fallen into the Mersey had he stepped backwards.

David de Gea has conceded 50 goals in the #EPL this season! It is the first time Manchester United have conceded 50 goals in a top-flight season in 40 years…#SLInt #SLChat pic.twitter.com/gCBrwYu74b

— Soccer Laduma (@Soccer_Laduma) April 26, 2019

It’s a while since he had a wobble like this. De Gea started badly at United and things rapidly got worse. In his 2011 debut against Manchester City in the Community Shield, United’s players were told that he had a problem with his eyes when it came to dealing with shots from distance. Replacing Edwin van der Sar was tough after six solid years of the Dutchman and United’s players felt the Spaniard lacked confidence, lacked any words of English and lacked weight. Sir Alex Ferguson protected his callow goalkeeper, even when United fans and journalists turned on him, which they did. After one game where De Gea had played badly, Fergie told the Spaniard in front of the entire dressing room that he was going to play him in every game, rather than rotate goalkeepers as he had been doing, so that he learned to deal with pressure.

His team mates, in turn, told David that he needed to be more vocal and pushed him to speak in English.  De Gea listened and learned and within days was shouting ‘My ball!’ in training.

Thanks to this support he settled and became the best goalkeeper in the world, one who would win United’s player of the season award four times in five years. He wanted to leave for Real Madrid in 2015 and Madrid wanted him – or at least they thought they did. United said nothing, though they were worried about the crowd’s potential reaction to him in the final game of the season in 2015 – but the fans applauded him. De Gea said nothing, but it was obvious what was happening.

#PremierLeague clean sheets for David De Gea#MUNLIV #MUFC #DaveSaves pic.twitter.com/IZ1YR9IQX4

— Unibet (@unibet) February 24, 2019

De Gea stayed, signed a huge new contract and continued doing his job exceptionally well. He’s one of the top five goalkeepers in the world, though that’s not a view widely shared in Spain after an inconclusive Euros in 2016 and a poor World Cup in 2018.

None of that matters to United fans. They like him and there’s universal support for him staying for as long as he’s so good, but there’s a but here.

De Gea’s agent is negotiating a new contract on his client’s behalf. He wants his client to be the best paid player at the club ahead of Alexis Sanchez – and that’s not taking into account his own vast agent’s fees. United are prepared to make De Gea the best paid goalkeeper in the world, but they can't find agreement with the other party. At what point do United say no?

De Gea says nothing – the heavy metal fan would rather attend a concert of classical music than do an interview, especially one in English – and he knows he doesn’t want to fan the flames among fans who want assurances but are not going to receive any.

I'm done #ManchesterDerby #MUNMCI #DeGea #Sane pic.twitter.com/Y97I4gf3dz

— Niklas Furuhaug (@NFuruhaug) April 24, 2019

His current poor form strengthens United’s case and De Gea is minded to stay, but United are right not to be seen as a soft touch in negotiations. It’s not as if the club don’t pay well – only Barça have a higher wage bill.

Former United goalkeeper Gary Bailey tweeted: “De Gea has been an absolutely amazing keeper for United, but perhaps time now to give him a rest and let him rediscover his mojo… we have a more than capable replacement in Argentinian international Sergio Romero.”

Romero told me that his low point was being dropped for De Gea after the Argentine had started the 2015-16 season so well. Louis van Gaal had chosen to drop De Gea amid contract speculation and the distraction of a possible move back to his home city.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rates Romero, who is keen to play first team football himself, but the manager isn’t  inclined to agree with Bailey and intends to do as Fergie did and keep playing the Madrileno.

️ Solskjaer on whether he would consider dropping David de Gea: "No, not at all. I trust David and for me, he's been the best player United have had the last six/seven years. Going through tough patches is just part of a footballer's career."#FFScout #FPL #GW36 #MUFC

— Fantasy Football Scout (@FFScout) April 26, 2019

“I trust David,” said Solskjaer on Friday. “He is the best player we have had for the last six or seven years. He will be fine. And going through tough patches is part of a footballer's career and David will be fine.”

There are mitigating factors for De Gea’s slump. He’s playing behind a defence which has recently become erratic. Had Luke Shaw closed Bernardo down, he wouldn't have had a shot on goal. Had Ashley Young not twice given the ball away in Camp Nou, then Barça wouldn’t have been able to score so easily.  

De Gea’s 28, young for a goalie, and he’s not on his way down. He deserves backing from fans he’s served so well. He’s gutted about his form, but every player loses it at some point.

I never thought I’d use the words from a flag held up by Liverpool fans celebrating United not winning the league in 1992. It read ‘form is temporary, class is permanent’, but it’s true in De Gea’s case. He’ll be back and will hopefully stay at Manchester United as he hopes to, albeit with more realistic expectations about his still stellar new salary.