Louis van Gaal: David de Gea knows what he is losing if he moves to Real Madrid

Louis van Gaal believes David de Gea has a tough decision to make on his future

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal addressed all the speculation regarding David de Gea’s contract situation and Real Madrid’s interest in him after United’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal. De Gea couldn’t complete the match as he went off the field due to a hamstring injury.

When asked what the future holds for the club with regard to the Spaniard’s contract situation, Van Gaal said, “I don’t think I can persuade him because he knows everything he has at Manchester United. I don’t have to say something because he can feel it every day. You have seen the fans – unbelievable. When he is going, he is losing that. Here he has a lot of credits. He has to decide.”

The manager also spoke about the difficulties the Spanish goalkeeper is facing in making his decision, saying, “You are asking things I cannot answer because I don’t know. I have also said a transfer is an individual thing. It is also a process. He has to decide because we have given a fantastic contract because we want him to stay. Fantastic season, I think.”

“I analyse his position and then I say he is Spanish, he is Spanish international, still behind Iker Casilla. Now a Spanish club is coming, his girlfriend is Spanish, his father and mother come every week or every two weeks here, so it is difficult.”

Van Gaal was also asked if Real Madrid had made an official offer for David de Gea, in response to which the Dutch manager said, “I am not doing that kind of thing.”

He also suggested that the United goalkeeper could miss the final game of the season against Hull City, saying, “His injury is a hamstring injury so it shall be difficult to play but you never know. Every player is difficult to replace. Every player has his contribution to the result.”

“Chelsea can finish a game, United can’t”

He was also asked about Victor Valdes becoming the next goalkeeper of the Old Trafford outfit, and about Falcao’s future, to which he responded by saying, You have to wait and see how we decide. I cannot say anything about transfers or what I like to say to the players because first I shall talk with the players and at the end with the media. You know how the situation is. At the end of the season, we will decide.”

He also went on to say that the difference between Manchester United and Chelsea lay in the latter’s abilities to kill matches.

“The difference between Chelsea and Manchester United is that they can finish a game. They can kill the game. I don’t think Arsenal can do it because they lost also 1-0 last week and also Manchester City cannot do it and I think that is the difference between the top four. That is the mentality we have to improve.”