Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal has said he thinks goalkeeper David de Gea will resists the overtures of Real Madrid and stay at the club.
The 24-year-old shot stopper, a former Atletico de Madrid player, is thought to be the number one target for Los Blancos to replace Iker Casillas long-term at the Santiago Bernabeu.
But amid reports of the 10-time Champions League winners making a bid in the summer for the rising star, United are believed to be set to offer him a new deal – just days after signing former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes on an 18-month contract.
Speaking to the press ahead of his side’s match against Southampton, Van Gaal said: “I think there is no problem for him to sign. When you are a (regular) player, then probably you are the best, and then the manager is very happy that a player that is fixed in the line-up will stay.”
He went on to speak about the battle between de Gea and Valdes for the number one jersey, suggesting the pair will both be at the club for a while.
”Nobody is happy to be number two and he has to have ambition to beat David De Gea – but it shall be very hard for him,” Van Gaal said.
“David de Gea has developed himself in the six months that I’ve been here very much. I’m very pleased with his development.”
