Schmeichel: De Gea situation sad

Posted Wednesday, August 12, 2015 by Foxsports.com

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel believes the club should have resolved the situation involving David De Gea before the season got under way.

The Red Devils' current number one was left out of the opening game of the season, a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, due to the goalkeeper not being fully focused.

De Gea's head has been turned by reported interest from Real Madrid, who are keen on bringing him in to replace Iker Casillas, but no deal has materialised yet.

"If the player is not happy; his agent, himself and the club that want him should have sorted this a long time ago," Schmeichel toldtalkSPORT. "It's sad that it's dragged into the season.

"I'd really like De Gea to stay. Two years running he's been player of the year. You don't let players like that go but if he wants to go, let him go and let Manchester United move on."

If the 24-year-old is eventually moved on, Schmeichel believes United should replace him with Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris, rather than the reported current front-runner, Jasper Cillessen.

"Cillessen is a good goalkeeper, but [Van Gaal] took him off for the penalty shoot-out at the World Cup and that shows some kind of no trust," he added.

"I think he doesn't trust him 100 per cent and I wouldn't like a goalkeeper like that at Manchester United.

"If De Gea goes I would love Lloris to come to Manchester United. He has exactly the style of play and he is proven in the Premier League."