David de Gea: 'Unhappy players are free to leave Manchester United'

The Red Devils ended their campaign with a 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon, which made it 12 losses from their 38 league fixtures in 2021-22.

Man United still managed to claim sixth spot in the Premier League table, though, with seventh-placed West Ham United losing at Brighton & Hove Albion.

As a result, incoming head coach Erik ten Hag will lead the 20-time English champions into the group stage of the Europa League in his first season at the helm.

Edinson Cavani played his last game for the club on Sunday, and the likes of Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard and Nemanja Matic are also set to move on at the end of next month.

Speaking after the loss at Palace, De Gea has said that he is "excited" to play under Ten Hag, and the goalkeeper is hopeful that the club sign 'good players with good character' this summer.

"I cannot wait. I am excited for the next season, new manager, new players. Hopefully we will improve put Manchester United in a better position. We need to trust in the future," journalist Shamoon Hafez quotes the Spain international as saying.

"The new manager and staff are already looking for new players. Hopefully they bring good ones with good character."

Meanwhile, De Gea has said that he is looking to "forget this season" as soon as possible, with the club now preparing for a new era under Ten Hag's management.

"I want to forget this season and be 100% ready for the next season and be positive. It has been horrible, a very bad season in all ways, it has been very tough. It is time to rest and prepare your minds for next season," he added.

De Gea has also taken a parting shot at some of the club's unhappy players, with rumours of discontent in the dressing room rife this season.

"Ones who want to stay, stay at the club. Ones that don't want to stay go out. You don't have to stay here," the 31-year-old said, in the quotes carried by Hafez.

De Gea's contract with the 20-time English champions is due to expire at the end of next season, although there is the option to extend the agreement for another 12 months.

Dean Henderson has been unable to oust the former Atletico Madrid youngster this term, and the England international is now set to leave this summer, with Ten Hag believed to be happy to keep De Gea as his number one goalkeeper during the 2022-23 campaign.