United are keeping De Gea, says Mourinho

Manchester United goalkeepr David De Gea will stay put at the Premier League club this season, manager Jose Mourinho said, amid media reports of continued interest in the 26-year-old by teams including Spanish champions Real Madrid.

Mourinho said United were open to a move for the keeper but clubs had reassessed their interest.

“I can guarantee that he is not going this season,” Mourinho told reporters in San Jose ahead of yesterday’s pre-season International Champions Cup match against Real Madrid.

“My feeling is it will very difficult for him to go. He is a very honest, straight boy. He was contacted for a long time, the club was closed and then we opened. I always have this feeling when a player has a desire to go, then I don’t like to stop players...

“So we opened it and then they decided to close it. I see him really happy, focused, working better than ever and 100 per cent he stays with us.”

Title tally

In six years at United, De Gea has played 269 matches and won seven titles.

United playmaker Ander Herrera stressed the importance of his Spanish teammate, whose deadline-day deal with Real Madrid collapsed in the 2015 summer window. “If you lose the top three in any position, like David is... it is a great loss,” Herrera told British media.

“We don’t want to lose them... For me, he’s the best in the world, so I want to keep him here at United.”