Former Manchester United goalkeeper Raymond van der Gouw admits that he was surprised when David de Gea extended his contract at Old Trafford but has hailed the Spaniard as a "top-class goalkeeper".
De Gea was on the verge of a move to Real Madrid on transfer deadline day in Spain, only for the transfer to fall through in farcical circumstances at the eleventh hour.
The keeper duly signed a new four-year deal with the Premier League club and Van der Gouw, who spent six years at Old Trafford, is delighted with the sequence of events, though he admits that the Spaniard's u-turn took him aback.
Speaking exclusively to Goal, he said: "It's a good thing. I was surprised that he renewed his contract at United. This transfer soap opera did take a surprising turn at the last moment but I'm sure there was a good reason."
De Gea will be 28 when his current deal expires and Van der Gouw has backed the goalkeeper to continue to improve in the coming years - whichever club he ends up at.
"For a goalkeeper that's still very young," he added.
"He arrived when he was young and he got the chance to adapt to the life in England. Every season he gets better."
De Gea made his first start of the season for United in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Liverpool, after Sergio Romero had been preferred by Louis van Gaal for the first six games of 2015-16.
Van der Gouw, though, expects De Gea to keep hold of the No.1 spot after committing his future to the club.
"Now he must return strong and grow back in a role as first goalkeeper again. De Gea is the No.1, otherwise United wouldn't have given him a new contract."
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