Louis van Gaal blasts wantaway David De Gea over refusal to play for Manchester United

David De Gea and Louis van Gaal are in a stand-off over the goalkeeper's future

LOUIS VAN GAAL has revealed David De Gea doesn't want to play for Manchester United as the stand-off with his unsettled goalkeeper took a sensational twist.

And the manager has warned Real Madrid target De Gea that if his much-desired move to the Bernabeu fails to materialise before the transfer window closes, he could stay in cold storage at Old Trafford for the season.

That would seriously jeopardise the Spain goalkeeper's hopes of playing in next summer's European Championships.

 

Van Gaal has left De Gea out of United's squad for the second game running because his focus has been distracted by Real's interest.

Ahead of tonight's trip to Aston Villa when Sergio Romero will keep his place between the posts, Van Gaal revealed De Gea had agreed with the decision to leave him out because he felt unable to play for the club amid the intense speculation over his future.

Van Gaal said: "We've talked with him and he was fully agreed with our decision. We have a goalkeeping coach, Frans Hoek, so I'm not doing everything alone.

 

De Gea has made 131 appearances for Manchester United since he joined in 2011

"Frans had a meeting with David and he asked him, 'Do you want to play?' The answer was no.

"Then I have to take the decision. It is a process. We had been observing him in preparation, and he was not so good, he was not the same David De Gea as before, when he was my best player last season. According to the fans, he was the best player of the last two years."

Asked whether De Gea would return to the team if his attitude changed and the move to Real didn't happen before the transfer window closes on September 1, Van Gaal added: "That depends on Sergio Romero and his form. It is always like that."

 

espite De Gea's reluctance to play, United are refusing to sell him unless Real match their £35m valuation or trade defender Sergio Ramos in a swap deal.

Meanwhile, Van Gaal admitted Barcelona's watnaway star Pedro is the ideal replacement for Angel Di Maria. Asked if he was the fast, penetrative player he is looking for he said: "I hear Pedro is a player like that. So write it!

"It's a process for the club and the player. I don't mention anything before he has signed. When he has signed I come to you and say, 'Hey, Pedro is here'. That is not the case and we shall wait and see."

Even if Pedro arrives, Van Gaal insists fringe stars Adnan Januzaj and Javier Hernandez will not be sold or loaned because he doesn't want to weaken his squad.