Manchester United have registered David De Gea in their Champions League squad, potentially jeopardizing the Spaniard’s chances of a move to Real Madrid.
David De Gea’s transfer has become one of the longest running transfer sagas of this window with the Red Devils reportedly holding out for a fee in the region of A?32 million – a world record fee for the transfer of a goalkeeper. The 24-year-old was dropped from the squad for the opening day clash against Tottenham Hotspur by manager Louis Van Gaal. Van Gaal felt that De Gea was not focused due to the uncertainty regarding his future and was thus dropped.
UEFA rules prevent a player to be registered for Champions League by two clubs during the same campaign
Manchester United face Belgian outfit Club Brugge next Tuesday at the Old Trafford and De Gea has been registered in the squad for the clash. If de Gea does indeed feature for the Red Devils in the clash, then it will render him ineligible to be registered by Real Madrid for their Champions League campaign should a transfer materialize. UEFA rules prevent the same player to be registered for two clubs during the duration of a campaign. The registration also sends out a clear signal to the Spanish giants that Manchester United are unwilling to let their star performer leave.
Former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes has been excluded from the squad with van Gaal suggesting on numerous occasions that the 33-year-old’s future at Old Trafford is up. This comes in light of allegations that Valdes refused to participate in Under-21 matches last season – a claim refuted by the Spaniard.
Manchester United can register one more player for their Champions League squad
The Red Devils can still register another player to their squad to face the Belgian club before Monday – should United sign another player during the time period. Manchester United are reported . to be close to agreeing on a deal to bring Spanish forward Pedro to Old Trafford with the 28-year-old unsettled at Camp Nou. Pedro netted the winner for FC Barcelona in last night’s UEFA Super Cup victory over Sevilla.
