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After David De Gea tweeted he was "proud to be a red" after Manchester United's 4-2 derby win over Manchester City on Sunday, former Red Gary Neville has warned that the club must keep the goalkeeper, who has interested Real Madrid, at all costs this summer.
The 'keeper has been United's standout performer this season, but has been constantly linked with a move to the Champions League holders this season. The 24-year-old moved to Old Trafford in an £18m transfer from Atletico Madrid in 2011.
Neville says that if United have to sell De Gea to Real, they need to take one of the La Liga' club's players in a makeweight deal.
"United need to try and keep him," Neville told Sky Sports.
"If they’re not going to keep him, there’s only one club you can think of that is going to come in for him. United have got to take someone off them.
“He has settled down now and is performing fantastically well. He’s been the best player for United all season, and he’s a candidate for player of the season.
Show all 23 1 /23Manchester United 4 Manchester City 2 player ratings Manchester United 4 Manchester City 2 player ratings David De Gea Stood his ground smartly when facing Aguero one-on-one early on, setting the tone for another calm performance. 6
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Manchester United 4 Manchester City 2 player ratings Antonio Valencia With Mata drifting infield he kept the right flank comfortably under control. Always dangerous going forward but it was his defensive covering that impressed today. 7
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Manchester United 4 Manchester City 2 player ratings Chris Smalling He is still prone to brainless moments, as when he was caught in the middle of the park bringing the ball forward, but his goal capped off another solid display. 6
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Manchester United 4 Manchester City 2 player ratings Phil Jones Watched City cut his defence apart for the opener but that at least encouraged him to wake up and he became more assured as the game wore on. 5
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Manchester United 4 Manchester City 2 player ratings Daley Blind United kept attacking down the left because of the danger Blind brought through fine deliveries and a great understanding with Young. 7
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Manchester United 4 Manchester City 2 player ratings Michael Carrick A solid, composed performance, keeping possession throughout and stepping back to help out in defence. Exactly what Louis van Gaal would have wanted from his vice-captain. 7
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Manchester United 4 Manchester City 2 player ratings Juan Mata An excellent display of playmaking from wide, he found space for himself and teammates. Capped another fine performance with a well-taken third. 8
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Manchester United 4 Manchester City 2 player ratings Ander Herrera The Spaniard is quickly becoming the all-round midfielder United have been searching for for a decade. He brought a strong passing range and confident dribbling to United’s victory. 8
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Manchester United 4 Manchester City 2 player ratings Marouane Fellaini From someone with no clear position in the United side he now seems to take up every one. Poacher, enforcer, target man: He did it all excellently. 9
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Manchester United 4 Manchester City 2 player ratings Ashley Young He deserved the lucky break for his goal as he put in an excellent performance on the left. His cross for Fellaini’s goal would have made David Beckham proud. 9
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Manchester United 4 Manchester City 2 player ratings Wayne Rooney For once the captain was peripheral in a Manchester derby, though he was still able to produce an assist for Mata and combine well with Fellaini. 6
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Manchester United 4 Manchester City 2 player ratings Off the Bench: Marcos Rojo He couldn’t have asked for an easier assignment than 15 minutes against a shell-shocked City. A quiet afternoon for the Argentine. 6
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Manchester United 4 Manchester City 2 player ratings Joe Hart Should have done much better with two United goals, in particular letting a soft Fellaini header through him. 4
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Manchester United 4 Manchester City 2 player ratings Vincent Kompany His first booking for diving in on Blind showed a man off pace, it was little wonder he was taken off at half-time. 3
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Manchester United 4 Manchester City 2 player ratings Pablo Zabaleta Was given a torrid time by Young, so concerned was he that he rarely if ever ventured forward, leaving his side light on attacking promise. 5
Manchester United 4 Manchester City 2 player ratings Martin Demichelis Provided no support for full-backs when Fellaini consistently peeled off to the back post, showed no leadership or organisation after Kompany went off. 4
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Manchester United 4 Manchester City 2 player ratings Gael Clichy Switched off to allow Young to ghost in for United’s first and didn’t switch back on again after. Too often he left space out wide for Valencia to attack. 4
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Manchester United 4 Manchester City 2 player ratings Jesus Navas His crosses seemed to be City’s best outlet as United grew in confidence, however he too often left Zabaleta alone to defend the right flank. 5
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Manchester United 4 Manchester City 2 player ratings Yaya Toure An anonymous presence who did little in either box and was overrun in the middle of the park. His defensive deficiencies are becoming more pronounced in each big match he plays. 4
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Manchester United 4 Manchester City 2 player ratings Fernandinho Out-skilled and out-thought by Herrera and co, never more so than when a quick change of feet by the Spaniard left the Brazilian on the floor. 5
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Manchester United 4 Manchester City 2 player ratings David Silva Another who started brightly, but the manager’s decision to station him out on the left backfired as he was unable to get on the ball and influence the game. 6
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Manchester United 4 Manchester City 2 player ratings James Milner Hi reverse-pass to Silva created the first goal but after that he began to make atypical mistakes. Pellegrini was right to replace him with Nasri. 5
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Manchester United 4 Manchester City 2 player ratings Sergio Aguero Took his early goal smartly but was left without support or creativity behind him. When he was given an opportunity, he took it. 7
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Gary Neville says United must keep hold of De Gea (Getty) “When this club - and any club for that matter - don’t have the goalkeeping position settled, it creates anxiety and nervousness all the way through the team."
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