David De Gea will not be part of Manchester United’s Match Day squad for Saturday’s Premier League opener at home to Tottenham Hotspur.
Manager Louis van Gaal told the club’s in-house television MUTV that there are “no injuries,” but adds that the Spaniard, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, is not in the best shape to start the season.
“It is not easy for David De Gea to manage his situation now,” the Dutch boss, 63, said at his pre-match conference on Friday. “You know that we have problems with De Gea.
“He shall not play, so I don’t have any concerns (about him this weekend).”
United signed Sergio Romero in the close season and the Argentine shot-stopper could be handed his Premier League debut against Spurs.
Victor Valdes- though has been made available on the transfer market by Van Gaal after saying the 33-year-old Spaniard declined selection- is another goalkeeper at Old Trafford, as well as Anders Lindegaard, 31, and Sam Johnstone, 22.
Marcos Rojo was the last to join the club’s pre-season following an extended holiday on the back of his participation with Argentina at the Copa America.
On midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who was signed from Bayern Munich, Van Gaal added: “Schweinsteiger came also at the last moment out of his holidays so I don’t think he s fit enough. We have to build the fitness he needs.”
