At least that"s what Madrid-based journalist Kieran Canning has suggested amid fresh speculation the stopper could head for the Bernabeu.
De Gea has long been linked with a switch to the La Liga giants and went close to joining them on the final day of summer 2015"s transfer window.
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Real Madrid were tipped to swoop for the 26-year-old again this year and Starsport understands a £60m bid from Florentino Perez is in the offing.
However, Agence France Presse reporter Canning reckons a deal is improbable since United"s move for Alvaro Morata collapsed earlier this month.
He tweeted: "Continued press speculation about De Gea all coming from one side.
"Madrid pretty much closed the book on that after CL [Champions League] final."
And Canning added: "Had there been a Morata or James [Rodriguez] deal it could maybe have been revived, but hard to see any Madrid-United deals post Morata breakdown."
With De Gea expected to remain at Old Trafford, Jose Mourinho will turn his attention from securing a potential replacement to other targets.
United are in talks with Inter Milan over Ivan Perisic and Starsport understands a deal could be wrapped up in the next 48 hours.
Mourinho is also in the market for a defensive midfielder, with a reunion with Chelsea ace Nemanja Matic seriously considered.