Yet with the Premier League season already under way, De Gea remains a Manchester United player, although he was not deemed in the right state of mind to play against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
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The Ajax goalkeeper has been linked with a move to Man United all summer and speculation is set to intensify as the summer transfer window begins to wind down.
There was one hairy moment in the first half when Romero put Morgan Schneiderlin in danger with a poor pass, but otherwise Van Gaal could not find fault with the Argentinian’s performance.
The announcement that David de Gea will be a part of Louis van Gaal’s Champions League squad for the two-legged play-off tie with Club Brugge is a warning that they are not going to back down.
Cillessen is understood to be keen for a move to the Premier League with Manchester United, having worked under Louis van Gaal with the Dutch national team at the 2014 Federation Internationale de Football Association World Cup.
The former Atletico Madrid stopper was also named in the Professional Footballers’ Association team of the year. Two years running he’s been player of the year.
Many people doubt if De Gea – United’s player for the year for the last two seasons – can ever have the same commitment after being axed by Van Gaal at the weekend but Robson is not among them.
And De Boer, who has missed out on three replacements for the Holland global, said: “Man United will have to pay huge price for Cillessen”.
However, Cillessen was adamant that he has not spoken with United or van Gaal about a switch.
“I’d like Lloris to go there, he fits the bill”.
United’s back-up goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, meanwhile, says his future has been left in limbo because of the uncertainty surrounding De Gea’s future.
United, which in principle should not have trouble getting rid of the Belgian side will play the first leg on 18 August at Old Trafford, while the round held in Bruges on 26 August.
Furthermore, he has since reiterated that it will probably be next month at the earliest before De Gea plays for United again, explaining: “I think when it is September 1 then there is a decision made as the transfer period is over then you have to manage the new situation which is easier”.
“I have to play with discipline in midfield”.
Should Madrid show no sign of being willing to raise their offer, De Gea could be selected against Brugge.
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“That is why he is signing the likes of Pedro and midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger”.
