Pundit lambasts Dean Henderson after Man United source’s £45m reveal – ‘it’s madness’

Noel Whelan has claimed Dean Henderson “scuppered his opportunity” to succeed David de Gea after publicly criticising Man United.

The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, slammed the “immature and bitter” comments from the 25-year-old Nottingham Forest loanee.

De Gea is out of contract at the end of the season and there are doubts over his long-term future at Man United.

David de Gea representing Man United during a warm-up

As revealed by Football Insider on 26 September, the Old Trafford club are keeping close tabs on Aston Villa shot-stopper Emiliano Martinez – who is valued at around £45million.

This site updated on Thursday (29 September) to reveal that Villa have no intention of letting the Argentina international leave in January.

Henderson has previously been outspoken about his “criminal” treatment at Man United, claiming he “wasted” a season after being told he was the first-choice keeper for the 2021-22 campaign.

When asked if player and club could mend their relationship, Whelan told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “I really doubt it.

“If I was the manager or owner of a club like Man United, I’d be telling him to crack on with his career elsewhere.

“When you come out and start putting down the club you’re at, there’s absolutely no way back.

“It’s just madness by him to come out and be so immature and bitter, when he could still have had a job to do.

Aston Villa

“I think it’s scuppered his opportunity.

“They could now be willing to go out and spend more money to get someone else in.”

In other news, pundit moots Cristiano Ronaldo exit in January after £384million Man United reveal.