Manchester United’s David de Gea is reportedly “baffled” at Louis van Gaal’s comments that the Spanish goalkeeper does not want to play for the club.

Van Gaal confirmed on Thursday that De Gea will again not be included in the match-day squad to face Aston Villa on Friday night, explaining that the 24-year-old expressly told the club he did not want to be part of the team in a meeting last week.

According to the Daily Mail, De Gea’s camp are “baffled” at Van Gaal’s comments, insisting that the Spaniard is in the right frame of mind to play having “trained to the highest possible level” this week and has a “completely clear conscience” regarding the situation at Old Trafford.

Louis van Gaal said in a press conference on Thursday that the club’s goalkeeping coach “Frans Hoek … he has a meeting with David de Gea and he asked him: ‘Do you want to play?’” Asked what the response was, Van Gaal said: “‘No.’ Then I have to take the decision. It is a process. We had been observing him in preparation, he was not so good, he was not the same David de Gea as before.”

De Gea continues to be a target of Real Madrid, who have already agreed personal terms, according to reports in Spain.

The former Atlético Madrid man has been included in Manchester United’s Champions League squad to face Club Brugge in their play-off qualifier next Tuesday, suggesting that Van Gaal is happy to run down the final year of the Spaniard’s contract this season. De Gea would then be available to move on a free transfer next summer.