Manchester United fans will be sneaking into the Bernabeu this summer in a bid to tinker with Real Madrid’s fax machine.
Supporters will be doing everything in their power to ensure that goalkeeper David De Gea remains a Manchester United player beyond the summer after another sublime season from the Spaniard was recognised at Old Trafford on Monday night.
For the third season running, De Gea was voted Manchester United’s Player of the Year at the end of season awards.
“It’s difficult to say something, to win three years in a row is amazing,” De Gea said at the ceremony. “I’m really happy. It’s an honour and I want to say thank you to every, I think we have some of the best fans in the world – thank you to everyone.”
De Gea has kept 14 clean sheets in the Premier League this season, rescuing vital points for United on countless occasions and he’s rightly been singled out for his third Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year gong in as many years, the only player in history to do so.
Other awards handed out on Monday evening included the players’ Player of the Year prize which went to Chris Smalling.
Smalling has matured into one of the most reliable centre-halves in the Premier League over the past nine months, relishing the leader’s role handed to him by Louis van Gaal.
Huge honour to win this award 🙌🏽 @ManUtd #MUFCPOTY pic.twitter.com/DKR6lMctLB
— Chris Smalling (@ChrisSmalling) May 2, 2016
Marcus Rashford, who was given his senior debut by van Gaal this year, was honoured with the award for Under-18 player of the year.
A fine debut season gets better for Marcus Rashford – he's our Under-18s Player of the Year! #MUFCPOTY pic.twitter.com/KDg3PoTcdj
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 2, 2016
Rashford has proven decisive in big games in this campaign; scoring against FC Midtjylland, Arsenal and arch-rivals Manchester City this season and has found the net on seven occasions since joining up with the first team in February.
Another youngster promoted by van Gaal this season is Cameron-Borthwick Jackson who received the U-21s Player of the Year award.
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson collects his Under-21s Player of the Year award… #MUFCPOTY https://t.co/PXahYez7aC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 2, 2016
And finally, Anthony Martial’s wonderfully constructed goal against Liverpool on his debut last September was voted as goal of the season.
#MUFCPOTY: @AnthonyMartial gets his award for Goal of the Season and discusses THAT strike against Liverpool… https://t.co/Ie99MI7RBL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 2, 2016
It’s looking like this will be the final Manchester United awards ceremony for van Gaal with rumours linking Jose Mourinho with the managerial position intensifying as the end of the season draws closer.
