De Gea agent hints at Real Madrid move

The Spaniard's contract at Manchester United expires next year and Jorge Mendes, who also represents Cristiano Ronaldo and Radamel Falcao, has not ruled out a return to Spain

The agent of Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has suggested that the Real Madrid target may not remain at Old Trafford for the entirety of his contract, remarking that "things change every five minutes".

The Spanish shot-stopper has been in sensational form for the Red Devils this season but has yet to be formally offered a new contract, with his current deal due to expire in 2016.

De Gea is understandably drawing admiring glances from the likes of Madrid, who are seeking a long-term heir to the declining Iker Casillias, while United snapped up veteran Victor Valdes on a free transfer to cover the possibility of the 24-year-old leaving.

And now super-agent Jorge Mendes, who also facilitated Cristiano Ronaldo's move from Manchester to Madrid, has added further fuel to speculation that De Gea could be the latest Galactico.

"David is amazing, he's brilliant," the Portuguese agent was quoted as saying by Marca when asked if De Gea could move to the Spanish capital.

"He's a Man United player and has a contract there. You have to respect that but things change every five minutes."

United boss Louis van Gaal, though, has previously insisted that De Gea would extend his current deal at Old Trafford after cementing his place as the club's No.1 goalkeeper.

Asked if he expected the keeper to agree an extension earlier in January, he replied: "I think so, yes. I think there is no problem for him to sign.

"When you are a [regular] player, then probably you are the best and then the manager is very happy that a player that is fixed in the line-up will stay."

Tensions between United and the Mendes camp are thought to be strained, though, with another of his clients, Radamel Falcao, having struggled for game time since joining the club on loan from Monaco - Mendes believes that he would be a certain starter at any other club in the world.

Louis van Gaal planning on giving Victor Valdes his debut in The match Man Utd vs Cambridge

Luis Van Gaal  is planning to hand Victor Valdes his Manchester United debut against Cambridge United on Friday.

Valdes, the former Barcelona goalkeeper who signed an 18-month contract at Old Trafford this month, has been named as a substitute as cover for David de Gea for United’s recent Premier League fixtures against Queens Park Rangers and Southampton.

However, with Van Gaal ready to sell the out-of-favour goalkeepers Anders Lindegaard – the Denmark international who Sevilla are keen to sign – and Ben Amos this month the United manager wants to expose Valdes, 33, to first-team football to ensure that he is prepared to stand in for De Gea should his No 1 become unavailable before the end of the season.

Valdes has not played competitive football since sustaining a cruciate knee ligament injury while playing for Barcelona against Celta Viga in March last year.
The Spaniard, who had been poised to leave Barcelona for Monaco before he was struck down by his injury, had spent three months completing his rehabilitation at Old Trafford before being offered a contract by Van Gaal, who has been convinced by Valdes’s recovery and ability to provide top‑quality cover for De Gea.

Despite De Gea’s uncertain future at United due to the goalkeeper, 24, having less than 18 months to run on his contract at Old Trafford, Van Gaal has made it clear to both goalkeepers that De Gea remains his first choice.
De Gea has been an ever-present for United this season, with Van Gaal overlooking Lindegaard and Amos to select the former Atlético Madrid goalkeeper for the Capital One Cup humiliation against MK Dons last August.

However, with Valdes needing to return to senior action to adjust to the more physical demands of English football, Van Gaal is contemplating naming him in the team to face League Two minnows Cambridge in the FA Cup fourth-round tie at the Abbey Stadium.
Robin van Persie, who missed the 2-0 victory at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday with an ankle injury, is poised to be fit to face Cambridge on Friday, but Van Gaal is considering resting the Holland international striker to hand more game time to Radamel Falcao and the youngster James Wilson.
Meanwhile, senior figures at Old Trafford have rejected speculation in Spain linking United with a £26.7 million bid for Valencia’s Argentina defender, Nicolas Otamendi.