Louis van Gaal has said he will leave David de Gea out of Manchester United's opening game of the new Premier League season against Tottenham Hotspur because the goalkeeper is so distracted by his potential move to Real Madrid.

Van Gaal has decided he cannot trust De Gea after noticing a deterioration in the Spaniard’s performances in training and during matches in the long period while United and Madrid have been negotiating a possible move.

De Gea has made it clear he wants to move to the Bernabéu and Van Gaal feels the issue means United’s player of the year cannot be in the right frame of mind to start the new season.

“He shall not play,” the manager said. “A human being is more than just a player and he cannot manage.”

Van Gaal was clearly frustrated that the issue was still unresolved but said he had to leave it with the United chief executive, Ed Woodward, and the Real Madrid president, Florentino Pérez, to conclude. "I cannot lead this process, I can only watch and observe and that is what I'm doing. I'm not participating in that process."

Van Gaal would not say who would replace him but his fall-out with Víctor Valdés leaves it as a straight choice between Sergio Romero, the Argentina international, and Sam Johnstone, who has been involved in all four of United's games on their tour to the United States.

Johnstone had loan spells at Preston North End and Doncaster Rovers but is in Van Gaal’s thinking because Romero has not played since the Copa América.

(Guardian service)