Super-rich Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea was given a yellow card by Tesco — for pinching a £1.19 DOUGHNUT.
The Spaniard, 20, was quizzed by security staff after he scoffed an Original Glazed ring treat from a Krispy Kreme cabinet at a store in Altrincham, Greater Manchester.
De Gea was hauled up after being captured on CCTV helping himself to the treat — but escaped a penalty.
The sticky-fingered stopper — thought to be on £70,000 a week — wolfed down the doughnut in the magazine aisle.
But as he headed for the exit without paying, he was tackled by security staff — one of whom spoke fluent Spanish.
They took the keeper, signed from Atletico Madrid in the summer in an £18.3million deal, to the store's "stop and search" room.
And they made it clear he had made a right howler by giving him a hairdryer treatment that would have made Man U boss Sir Alex Ferguson proud.
De Gea strode into the Tesco Extra with two Spanish pals.
A source said: "They weren't very subtle. They swaggered in chatting loudly in Spanish.
"The security guards who monitor the CCTV watched two of them take a doughnut each out of the Krispy Kreme cabinet.
"Incredibly, they then appeared to try to leave without paying — or buying anything else for that matter."
The source said that when challenged and ushered into the search room, de Gea did not seem to know what was going on and "looked pretty embarrassed".
Last night a Tesco spokesman said: "A customer was spoken to by our security team and the issue was resolved."
Police were not called and no further action was taken.
Tesco has a strict policy of a three-month store ban for alleged shoplifters.
De Gea is regarded as the best young goalkeeper in Europe and was part of the Spain Under-21 team that won this year's European Championship.
His United career got off to a shaky start but he has recently begun to impress with some fine saves.
Sir Alex is fully behind his star signing. He said of de Gea earlier this month: "He's 20 years of age and doesn't know the culture of the country.
"That's a lot to deal with but he has shown great composure about the whole thing.
"He's not got himself flapping about the goalmouth. I think he's absolutely outstanding. The boy is tremendous." - www.thesun.co.uk
