Former United keeper Jimmy Rimmer is delighted that David De Gea has signed a new contract with the club and believes that the Spaniard can go on to become a United legend.
Speaking exclusively to Retro United Jimmy said: “It’s 100% good news, he’s been the best goalkeeper for the last two years in the Premier League.
“Last year the number of points he got United was unbelievable and that’s what it’s all about. When you have a good goalkeeper that’s what they do. The new goalkeeper Romero has done quite well in the few games that he’s played but he’s not quite the same as De Gea has been in the last couple of seasons.”
De Gea could still leave the club next summer if Real Madrid choose to reignite their interest in the player, it has not been announced as of yet whether the deal includes some kind of release clause but the good news is that at the very worst United will receive a decent fee for a player whose improvement over the last four years has been startling at times.
Jimmy made 46 appearances in goal for United between 1968 and 1973 and believes the Spaniard is well on his way to becoming an Old Trafford goalkeeping legend alongside the likes of his former teammate Alex Stepney: “He makes saves and it excites people. The players playing in front of him get encouragement from it and start to raise their game which is what you want because it’s a team game.
“I think in time he can reach that level, he’s on his way now. During the last two years he’s been absolutely unbelievable.”
Asked how the art of goalkeeping has changed since he played Jimmy says: “In the old days the referee would allow a challenge on a keeper but now they try to obstruct them more and stop them from coming for crosses.
“It’s a different way to what we used to play, it used to be two big centre forwards against two big centre-halves and we all went up for the ball together.”
