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It was a question that was always going to come, and when it did, Vicente del Bosque’s answer will have seen a smile rip across Louis van Gaal’s face.

“If he doesn’t play,” said Del Bosque of Manchester United keeper David De Gea, “it will be very difficult for him to come [to the Euros].”

And just like that, for the first time in over a year, Manchester United had some leverage.

For the last 12 months, with the clock ticking down on De Gea’s Old Trafford deal and the 24-year-old showing no intention of signing a new one amid such strong interest from Madrid, this has been a one-way street - De Gea heading out of Manchester and United helpless. Their offers of contract renewals were turned down or ignored, their attempts to strong-arm him pointless. The player held all the aces.

(Image: Dean Mouhtaropoulos)

Del Bosque’s comments, however, could have turned the tide slightly. Granted, it still seems incredibly likely that in a year’s time, David De Gea will be a Real Madrid player. Most likely he will sign on a Bosman in the summer and pick up a hefty signing-on fee and salary.

But look at what else the Spain coach said. “I hope that he starts playing again and is happy. If he plays well we can bring him along [to Euro 2016].”

De Gea hasn’t made an appearance for United this season, and if they continue to freeze him out then there seems little doubt that he’ll be omitted from the squad for next summer’s European Championships... which is why United should be in no rush to welcome him back into the side.

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Louis van Gaal now knows that whether David De Gea plays in his first major tournament is entirely in his hands, and that is why he must leverage it for a new deal. It is obvious that De Gea doesn’t want to stay long-term at the club, and that is fine, but a new deal containing, for example, a £30million release clause will ensure United don’t lose out on a fee for one of the world’s top keepers. It would also mean De Gea wouldn’t have to go another season being paid well below his worth, and would shift all of the pressure onto the player.

Indeed, how would it look to the Spanish public if an international player would rather reject a new deal and sit an entire season on the sidelines, knowing he’d miss Euro 2016, than get back out on the pitch with a new deal full of escape clauses?

(Image: Reuters)

It’s somewhat hopeful thinking, granted, but rather than throwing De Gea back in against Liverpool without a second thought, there could be a far greater prize available for United here. Real Madrid have thus far been able to posture and preen because United at no point had any leverage in the De Gea situation.

Now that they do, they need to use it.