Iker Casillas has thrown his weight behind heir apparent David De Gea's move to Real Madrid.
The Manchester United goalkeeper looks likely to leave Old Trafford this summer and is wanted by the Bernabeu club to replace skipper Casillas. But far from being put off by the thought of a younger, sharper model arriving to displace him, Casillas has admitted he'd like to see the 24-year-old return to Spain with Madrid.
"Would you like De Gea to come," he was asked by television show Jugones, replying "of course I would."
Yet the veteran keeper doesn't think that signing the United man would signal the end of his career-long stay at the European champions. And, riled by being asked once more about his own future, Casillas snapped at reporters:
"I am going to stay [at the club]. Do I really have to tell you again?"
Meanwhile, Louis van Gaal is positive that De Gea will remain at Old Trafford and turn down the Spanish giants.
De Gea has stalled on signing on a £200,000-a-week contract from United , in the knowledge Real are waiting to take him to the Bernabeu.
Despite that, Van Gaal said be believes De Gea, 24, will eventually decide to commit his immediate future to United by agreeing to the contract extension.
Asked if Victor Valdes , United's current No.2, has what it takes to fill the void should De Gea leave, Van Gaal said: “First we have to see if David De Gea is leaving, then we shall talk about other things.
“But I still believe David will stay. And I want to play him against Hull, because I want to play my strongest team. And I think my strongest team must include David.”