Shaun Custis Baffled By Louis van Gaal's Decision To Leave David de Gea Out

Shaun Custis thinks Louis van Gaal’s decision to omit David de Gea from the Manchester United squad for the opening day of the season was "nonsense".

The Spain international has just a year left on his contract at Old Trafford and has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer.

Van Gaal has said De Gea will not be sold for a cut price and left him out of the squad to face Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday due to the speculation over his future.

The 24-year-old instead watched the 1-0 opening day win from the stands along with fellow 'keepers Victor Valdes and Anders Lindegaard while Sergio Romero started in goal.

"You saw that ridiculous picture at Old Trafford yesterday, with three goalkeepers sat in the stands chatting, and you thought 'this is nonsense, what on earth is going on?'" said Custis, the head of sport content at The Sun, on the Sunday Supplement.

"Even if it means United lose him next summer because he is out of contract, the money they would get for him should not matter. They need to keep him for another year so they can get plans in place to get a 'keeper next year.

"But it’s a pride thing now as well. They have said you're (Real) not getting De Gea unless we get (Sergio) Ramos, and Van Gaal and United feel they can't back down from that stance.

"If they let De Gea go and they don't get Ramos they look like the smaller club, they feel they can’t do that."

After joining from Atletico Madrid in 2011, De Gea has been named United’s Player of the Season for the last two years.

But although his time at Old Trafford looks to be coming to an end, Andy Dunn of the Sunday Mirror says the current goalkeeping situation is "odd".

"I find it quite hard to believe he is not in the right frame of mind," he said. "David de Gea is a top professional, I can't believe he does not want to play.

"I find the whole goalkeeper situation odd, I find the Victor Valdes situation very strange too. Van Gaal so publically took apart his character even though he played in the last game of last season when he had to with De Gea out injured. I find it odd he just alienates Valdes so abruptly.

"If Van Gaal thinks De Gea is not in the right frame of mind now, would he be if United say he is staying against his wishes? United have got a lot of money, but they are not a charity, they are still a business."

Football writer Henry Winter believes United should do everything they can to keep hold of the Spaniard.

"De Gea is probably in the top three in the world so you want to hold onto him," he said. "He has matured so much at Man United and you look at the uncertainty in the United defence, you need a strong goalkeeper.

"They have to do everything to hold on to a goalkeeper of De Gea’s quality."

Credit: Skysports.com