Louis van Gaal believes David de Gea will be highly professional should the goalkeeper take his place on the Manchester United tour to the US on Monday, despite being a target for Real Madrid.
The Spaniard’s future remains unclear as he will be sold to Real only if Van Gaal can take the club’s defender Sergio Ramos in return. With only three days to go until United fly to Seattle to begin the four-match, three-state tour, time is pressing if the issue is to be resolved before then.
Van Gaal said he had no concerns about De Gea’s focus: “He is a very professional player and he showed fantastic attitude until now and I think that for all my players – not only De Gea but others who have to behave themselves very professionally. It is also good that Memphis [Depay, the new signing] does that. That is the difficulty now for every manager. This period when players have to go or not have to go is the most difficult time. I cannot complain about the professional attitude of my players.”
As the 360 minutes of football on the tour are the only game time before United start the season on 8 August, with Tottenham Hotspur’s visit to Old Trafford, Van Gaal faces being unsure who his No1 will be for their Premier League opener.
One player the manager is certain will arrive is Matteo Darmian. The Torino right-back, who is to cost an initial £12.9m, is due to have a medical, Van Gaal confirmed. “Yes, I have read that in the papers,” said the manager. “That is true.”
Van Gaal appears likely to sell Robin van Persie to Fenerbahce, although the manager would not be drawn on this. “When we feel we can say he is gone, you shall hear it from Manchester United,” Van Gaal said. “We don’t have the feeling yet.”
Should Van Persie depart, another striker may be required. Van Gaal also wants to bring in Morgan Schneiderlin to bolster central midfield and if Ramos does not arrive as part of the De Gea deal the Dutchman would still want a central defender.
The manager was reluctant to say if he was on track with his attempt to strengthen his squad. With regard to buying a new forward, Van Gaal said: “We have enough strikers but maybe. It is always what is possible. Manchester United shall not buy to buy. I am not a manager who wants to buy players. No, I want to develop players. Sometimes you have to buy but when you buy it has to be better than what you have. That is theory and it shall be showed if it is true.
“I have said at the end of the season that buying and selling is a process, and we are in the middle of a process that lasts until 1 September. I find it ridiculous that the transfer period is so long and so late but it is like that. Transfers are processes and when I read the papers, you can read that also. We cannot say anything about our transfers, our strategy, because otherwise our opponents can take profit from it.”
