David de Gea and Louis van Gaal are not on talking terms, according to reports in Spanish newspaper AS which claims that the pair haven’t spoken for months now.
The Spanish goalkeeper has put in a series of remarkable performances for his side in the Premier League this season, masking their defensive deficiencies to a large extent, though he is yet to sign a new deal at Old Trafford.
Madrid-based sports daily AS today claims that the De Gea’s relationship with the manager has turned sour due to the Dutchman’s personality and he could well be on his way out of the club with heavy interest from Real Madrid.
Manu Sainz on AS has reported that Van Gaal is pushing De Gea away from the club and bringing him closer to a move to Madrid.
Van Gaal recently played down the goalkeeper’s importance at the club, refusing to praise him despite his heroics.
“I think he doesn’t save many points because he’s my goalkeeper,” said Van Gaal had retorted when asked about De Gea’s importance.
“His obligation is to hold balls and you are thinking that is an exception for other goalkeepers and it’s not. I’m sorry for that.”
De Gea’s contract runs out in 2016 and he will leave United in all likelihood if he doesn’t sign an extension. Then again, his representatives are understood to have been asking for a minimum release clause of A?25million which would make it a summer filled with rumors due to Iker Casillas’s patchy form for Madrid.
Along with De Gea, United are thought to be looking at the likes of Thibaut Courtois, Kiko Casilla and Carlos Abad as possible replacements for Casillas.
Talks are still underway for De Gea to get a deal that would make him the highest paid goalkeeper in the world, but that won’t come as a surprise because he has super-agent Jorge Mendes by his side.
He won the Player of the Year award at Old Trafford last season and is in line to repeat that feat again. Amazing saves against Everton, Stoke City and West Ham amongst others have given United vital points.
Victor Valdes was signed on a free transfer in January which further fuelled speculation about De Gea’s impending departure come summer, though the former Barcelona goalkeeper is yet to make an appearance for his new club.
De Gea meanwhile, has refused to come out and clarify the situation.