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David De Gea has 'no problem' with Louis van Gaal ahead of his Manchester United return, insists Spain teammate Juan Mata

Mata is currently on international duty for Spain alongside De Gea and says he has spoken with his United colleague about his future

Jack de Menezes
Tuesday 08 September 2015 14:59 BST
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David De Gea and Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal
David De Gea and Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal

David De Gea will have no problem with his manager Louis van Gaal when he returns to Manchester United following his collapsed move to Real Madrid on transfer deadline day, says his compatriot Juan Mata.

De Gea looked poised to move back to his homeland in a £29m deal that included Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas moving to Old Trafford, only for a delay in paperwork meaning that the Spanish club were unable to register the transfer with La Liga officials before the midnight deadline.

With De Gea having just one year remaining on his contract, United risk losing the goalkeeper on a free transfer next summer, while De Gea could choose to refuse to play for the club following their failure to sell him during the summer.

But Mata says he has not seen anything in De Gea during their time with the Spanish national team to suggest that his reintegration with the rest of the squad will be a problem, and believes that he and Van Gaal will be able to continue their working relationship from where they left off last season.

"I've talked with him a lot. There have been hectic and stressful days but he is such a quiet, centred person, nothing changes," Mata told members of the British media ahead of Spain’s 2016 European Championship qualifier against Macedonia.

Juan Mata hugs David De Gea during Spain training

"The last two years David has been the best player in our team. His saves have earned us a lot of points. I have no doubt this will be a very good year, too.

"I don't think there'll be a problem with the club, the coach or the fans. That's what I perceive. The fans love him very much, he's highly regarded by the club and the coach," Mata added.

De Gea has won the club’s Player of the Season for the past two years, and with current first choice Sergio Romero at fault for the winning goal in the 2-1 defeat to Swansea two weekends ago, Van Gaal could choose to bring De Gea back for this Sunday’s Premier League clash with Liverpool.

United remain hopeful that they can persuade the 24-year-old to stay at Old Trafford beyond the end of the season by signing a contract extension, but unless there is a breakthrough in negotiations between club and player De Gea is set to negotiate his own move to a new club with United to lose him for nothing.

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