Louis van Gaal, David De Gea react to new contract

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea has signed a new four-year contract, the club said on Friday, a week after a proposed transfer to Real Madrid collapsed.

The Spain international, 24, almost joined Madrid on transfer deadline day, but the deal fell through as the necessary paperwork was not filed in time and the clubs blamed each other for the bureaucratic failure.

His previous deal was set to expire at the end of the season, and he had been widely expected to join Madrid on a free transfer next year.

His decision to commit his future to United will give the club a timely boost ahead of Saturday’s clash at home to rivals Liverpool.

“I feel really well. I will have to say thank you to them (the fans) for their support. I feel them from the first day and of course I’m really happy,” De Gea told Manchester United’s television channel, MUTV.

“There was a lot of speculation this summer but I keep my hard work and now I’m relaxed, I’m happy here and now we have to look for the next season, this season and we have to play well, to win the games and hopefully we can win a trophy.”

De Gea was left out of United’s opening games of the season, with manager Louis van Gaal openly questioning whether the player could deal mentally with the ongoing speculation.

Argentina international Sergio Romero was installed as first-choice keeper and kept three clean sheets in the league before being criticised following a 2-1 defeat by Swansea City.

Van Gaal has yet to confirm whether De Gea will be brought back into the side for Saturday’s home clash with Liverpool.

He was the man-of-the-match when the sides met last year, making a string of superb saves as United won 3-0, the first part of a league double over the Merseysiders.

Van Gaal said he was delighted with the new deal but warned the good news would automatically result in good performances.

“Yes of course David is chosen as our best player last season and not only by the fans, also by his fellow players so he is very popular and it shall give a boost but with a boost you cannot win you have to perform as a team and things like that,” Van Gaal said. “So it’s a boost but we have to wait and see if he can achieve his old level and better – no, no he has to improve because every player has to improve; that is our philosophy.”