Manchester United's David de Gea (Photo : Reuters)
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal requested the team's board to sell Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea to La Liga club Real Madrid, as reported by The Guardian.
The transfer of the 24-year-old goalie to the Bernabéu had been speculated by the media all summer long, and it allegedly forced the Dutch mentor to give in to the suggestions.
De Gea still has one season left in his contract with the Red Devils, but his lackluster showing against Paris Saint-Germain during their last match in the 2015 International Champions Cup was said to be the last straw that broke van Gaal's patience.
United lost that game, 0-2, because of de Gea's early mistakes at goal. He was replaced at the beginning of the second half by Sam Johnstone, who had not given up any goals for the Old Trafford's side.
During the post-match interview, van Gaal admitted that de Gea was desiring to leave United for Los Blancos and the team is willing to grant him his wish.
"We have a situation on our hands that is not good for the player, not good for us and not good for the club where the player wants to move to," the 63-year-old coach told reporters, via the Mirror.
Reports said that the Devils are setting de Gea's transfer fee at £25 million, which was quite high for the bargain-seeking Rafa Benitez. Even after the recent departure of resident goal tender Iker Casillas to Porto, it will be hard for Real to spend that big of an amount as they still have equally talented goalies in Kiko Casilla and Keylor Navas.
