Manchester United: Jose Mourinho Has ‘Concerns’ Over David De Gea

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea.

Sergio Romero will play in goal for Manchester United in its UEFA Europa League quarterfinal against Anderlecht on Thursday evening amid reported worries over the form and fitness of regular goalkeeper David De Gea.

De Gea, 26, has been close to moving to Real Madrid in each of the past two summer transfer windows, with only a delay in paperwork holding up a transfer to the Spanish capital in 2015.

In Jose Mourinho’s first season at United, though, De Gea has been a key player though he missed United’s victory at Sunderland on Sunday with what Mourinho described as a “hip problem.”

Now, though, the Daily Mail claims Mourinho is “concerned” about De Gea’s performances and will stick with Romero in goal against the team currently top of the Belgian First Division A. United has two routes remaining to secure UEFA Champions League football, via a top-four finish in the English Premier League and winning the Europa League.

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea at Old Trafford, Manchester, April 4. De Gea missed United's victory over Sunderland on Sunday. Jason Cairnduff/Reuters

Romero, the Argentina national team goalkeeper, made a superb save to deny Sunderland striker Victor Anichebe at the Stadium of Light and has been a regular starter in the Europa League this season.

Phil Neville, the former United defender, said earlier this week that he believed De Gea had been dropped for the Sunderland game and would sign for Real Madrid this summer.

"I’m still amazed at David De Gea," Neville said in quotes reported by the Manchester Evening News following United’s 3-0 victory. "You know when Real Madrid likes a player, they tend to come and get him. So it’d be a worry, if I were a United fan."

United plays the first leg of its quarterfinal at Constant Vanden Stock stadium in Brussels on Thursday evening, with the return at Old Trafford on April 20.