Pulis tells Berahino to stay away
WEST BROM rebel Saido Berahino has been told to stay away from training until Monday with head coach Tony Pulis ordering him to cool off ahead of crunch talks over his future.
Berahino, right, has been given an extended break to refl ect on the angry deadline- day tweet in which he slammed chairman Jeremy Peace and appeared to threaten strike action.
He is facing clear- the- air talks with Pulis and senior Baggies offi cials over his furious reaction DAVID DE GEA received support from his Spain team- mates yesterday after his collapsed transfer to Real Madrid – and a warning from his international manager.
Spain boss Vicente Del Bosque said De Gea has to get his head right and win back his starting place for Manchester United if he is to stay in his plans for Euro 2016 and have any hope of displacing veteran No1 Iker Casillas.
That note of caution will be welcomed by United manager Louis van Gaal as he attempts to reintegrate a goalkeeper deemed too unsettled to play in the fi rst six games of the domestic season.
Ahead of Spain’s qualifi ers against Slovakia on Saturday and Macedonia next Tuesday, Del Bosque said: “He needs to be professional and move on from this episode.
“I hope that he starts playing again and is happy, and if he plays well we can bring him along. If he doesn’t play, it will be very diffi cult for him to go to the Euros.”
United colleagues Juan Mata and Ander Herrera, and Real captain Sergio Ramos have rallied round De Gea by saying he has the character to bounce back from the disappointment of missing out on his dream move.
Mata insists there will be no backlash from United fans or any resentment from the rest of Van Gaal’s squad, who will welcome him back into the fold. And he believes De Gea will re- establish himself as United’s No1.
“David is professional and he always will be,” he said. “His desire and professionalism will remain intact. Any team in the world would be better off with him in it. He seems the same as ever to me. He’s calm and relaxed. It is good for him to be here with the national team too.
“He is a friend and he is very professional. I am sure he will be fi ne. He will manage the to their decision to reject a fourth bid of £ 22.5million from Tottenham for his services, as only £ 6.5m was to be paid up front.
The West Brom players not on international duty will return from a two- day break tomorrow, but Pulis has decided to give Berahino, 22, extended leave .
No meeting has been scheduled formally, but on his return the forward is expected to be asked to explain his actions . He is likely to be fi ned for the tweet but the Baggies are also keen to offer an olive branch as they look to get their prize asset back on board for when the Premier League season resumes .
Players’ union chief Gordon Taylor has advised Berahino against any strike action and said: “Things can be said in the heat of the moment. Contracts work both ways, but players need to play and keep fi t. We’re hopeful it can be resolved.”