David de Gea 'holds talks with Real Betis over move'

The Spaniard departed Man United when his contract expired at the end of June, and he is still a free agent, having thus far been unable to find a suitable club.

De Gea has recently been linked with a surprise return to Old Trafford, with the Red Devils said to want another goalkeeper due to the fact that current number one Andre Onana is set to represent Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

However, it is difficult to imagine the 33-year-old returning to Man United, even on a short-term basis, considering the manner of his exit, with the club believed to have initially offered him a renewal before changing their minds.

De Gea was criticised for a string of errors last season, but he won the Golden Glove in the Premier League, keeping an impressive 17 clean sheets in the competition.

Teams in Saudi Arabia and the MLS have been linked with the experienced stopper, who made 545 appearances for Man United during his time at the club.

However, according to El Desmarque, De Gea has held discussions with Real Betis over a return to La Liga.

The report claims that the Spaniard is 'excited' about the prospect of representing the club, who are enjoying an impressive 2023-24 campaign.

Manuel Pellegrini's side currently sit sixth in the La Liga table, while they have advanced to the second round of the Copa del Rey and are on course to book their spot in the knockout round of the Europa League.

Claudio Bravo and Rui Silva have shared the gloves for Real Betis this season, with the former making nine appearances, while the latter has played eight times.

De Gea, should he arrive, would allegedly immediately become the number one stopper at the club.

The Spaniard previously played in La Liga for Atletico Madrid between 2009 and 2011, making 57 appearances in the competition, keeping 14 clean sheets in the process.

Should a deal be agreed over the international break, De Gea could potentially be in contention to make his debut for the club in their La Liga clash with Las Palmas on November 26.

Real Betis will be bidding to make it six straight wins in all competitions when they lock horns with rivals Sevilla in the Sevilla derby on Sunday evening.