Gary Neville has disclosed that Manchester United decided against signing Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya because a club insider deemed him 'not good enough with his feet.' The revelation came during an episode of The Overlap's Stick to Football podcast, where Neville recounted a conversation with a United contact while Raya was at Brentford.
Neville said he had recommended Raya to United after watching him extensively, praising his shot-stopping, command of the box, and bravery. However, the response was dismissive: 'Oh, he's not good enough with his feet.' The anecdote has drawn criticism from fellow pundits, with Roy Keane joking that Neville must have been speaking to the groundsman, and Ian Wright expressing disbelief at the assessment.
The decision not to pursue Raya appears part of a broader pattern of goalkeeping struggles at Old Trafford. United moved on from David de Gea partly due to concerns over his footwork and composure under pressure, but successors Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir have continued to make costly errors. The club recently signed Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp for an initial £18 million, hoping to end the cycle of instability.
Raya, who joined Arsenal from Brentford in 2023 for £27 million, has largely impressed with his ball-playing ability, which many now regard as a strength. Despite a recent error leading to a goal against Liverpool, his performances have vindicated Arsenal's investment. The story highlights how even top clubs can make questionable judgments, with United's apparent fixation on footwork potentially costing them a reliable goalkeeper.
