Real Madrid Transfer News: David De Gea Urged to Stay at Manchester United

Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero has encouraged David De Gea to stay at the club this summer, as rumours continue to swirl about a potential move to Real Madrid.

As reported by Sport Witness, both AS and SPORT have suggested Los Blancos will accelerate a move for the Spain international. Madrid director Emilio Butragueno refused to rule out new signings at the presentation of Mateo Kovacic and wasn’t drawn on the club’s pursuit of De Gea, per Marca.

But Romero has expressed his desire that the Spain international remains at Old Trafford for the upcoming term, per talkSPORT:

"

The truth is that I have no idea [if he will leave], but for me I hope that De Gea stays here because he's a good team-mate who always works hard and that is best for the group. 

It is a difficult situation for him but when one is a great professional like he is and when one has a good head like his you keep training to get better day by day because you never know, he could play this weekend.

He is a great team-mate, a great professional, a great person. It happened to me last year in Sampdoria. I was not playing but I was working as if I was going to play.

"

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

Real Madrid’s domestic campaign begins this weekend, as they start life after Iker Casillas in earnest. Tasked with replacing the longstanding influence of the legendary goalkeeper will be Kiko Casilla, a summer signing from Espanyol, and Costa Rica international Keylor Navas.

Both men are extremely capable between the sticks and will afford Real a solid base. But if Los Blancos are to adequately replace the void that’s been left by Casillas, they need a supreme goalkeeper. Granted, there are few of those around, but De Gea is definitely in that bracket.

ANDRES KUDACKI/Associated Press

Sports writer Sam Pilger thinks it’s inevitable that the Spain international will join Real Madrid:

It’s clearly a proposition that has enticed De Gea to the point of distraction. Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has claimed that the goalkeeper didn't want to play in the team's opening game, per James Robson of the Daily Mirror, and with just one year left on the player’s deal, it puts the Red Devils in a difficult situation.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Stay and De Gea will surely knuckle down. After all, with the European Championships coming up next summer, a season on the fringes would do little for the Spanish star as he looks to force his way into their team. But if he leaves for a fee this window, it means United have very little time to isolate and sign a quality replacement.

Bleacher Report’s Rob Blanchette is one of many Manchester United supporters who have grown a little tired of this ongoing saga:

Real hold all the aces here. Should the transfer window pass without bringing the Red Devils man in, they’ll have two evenly matched goalkeepers who will be vying for a spot in the first team, safe in the knowledge that the club can agree a pre-contract with De Gea from January onward.

Therefore, a sizeable offer from Real may be enough for United to cash in and move on. After all, as the days remaining in the window tick down, it’s going to be increasingly difficult for the Red Devils to find an appropriate replacement.

Romero, as well as he has done so far, certainly doesn’t seem to be a long-term solution, and that’s likely to tempt United into a sale.