Manchester United fans beg De Gea for second chance as Onana prepares for AFCON

Manchester United fans on social media have begged former goalkeeper David De Gea to consider a return to the club after a string of worrying performances in goal by his replacement, Andre Onana.

De Gea, who had a 12-year stint at United, left as a free agent in the summer after contract talks with the club did not materialise.

His departure was somewhat surprising, given his status as one of the club's greatest modern goalkeepers and his winning the Premier League Golden Glove in his last season.

However, Erik ten Hag, Manchester United's manager, seemed to have different plans and opted for Onana from Inter Milan as De Gea's replacement.

The performances of Onana have been under scrutiny, especially due to high-profile errors, especially in the UEFA Champions League, where the Red Devils were eliminated at the group stage.

With Onana set to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations, Manchester United faces the prospect of missing a key goalkeeper for several games, with only summer signing Altay Buyindir available, leading to speculation about De Gea's return.

De Gea shared a New Year post via his X handle, to which many of his fans reacted, letting the Spaniard know that they wanted him to come back to Manchester United

Interestingly, De Gea has been spotted in Manchester recently, further intensifying rumours of a potential return. 

Despite being a free agent and reportedly having offers from other clubs, De Gea's presence in Manchester and interactions with his former team have led to speculation about a short-term contract with United, especially during Onana's absence due to the Africa Cup of Nations.

His established legacy at the club, coupled with the current challenges faced by his replacement, keeps the door open for a return, at least in the short term​.