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Louis van Gaal claims he and his Manchester United players are the 'victims' in the ongoing David de Gea transfer saga.

Van Gaal has decided not to play De Gea, determined to join Real Madrid, against Tottenham in United's Premier League opener on Saturday over the Spanish goalkeeper's lack of focus.

"The player has to manage this situation," Van Gaal said. "I think when it is September 1 then there is already a decision made, because then the transfer period is over and then we have to manage the new situation. That may be easier, but I don't know, we have to see and wait, and observe.

"I am the victim, the fellow players are the victims, the club is the victim but that is why the transfer period has to change.

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"A player cannot manage this situation and we have observed and seen him in training sessions, we have seen him in matches and he is not the David de Gea of last year. But you cannot say 'oh, that is De Gea', he tries and does his utmost best but it is a difficult situation.

"So now we have to play our first match and this is the most important match, so I want players who can only focus on the match and he is not capable of doing that."

Van Gaal greeted the media by saying 'Hello, my friends' at Carrington but his mood became decidedly unfriendly when talk turned to De Gea and the United press officer requested the press move on from the subject.

But not before Van Gaal clarified why United had not sold De Gea to Real.

"The process are three parties, I have already said in press conferences before, also," Van Gaal reiterated. "That is the player, the club and Ed Woodward and I.

"He is the best goalkeeper we have had in the last three years, I believe. Two years he was nominated by the fans as the best player of this club. Do you think the trainer coach wants him to leave? I don't think so."

United plan to sign Ajax and Netherlands stopper Jasper Cillessen to replace De Gea if he does leave, though Van Gaal repudiated the suggestion the club should have resolved the goalkeeping matter quickly.

"Manchester United has to pay. We have to pay for all the players a certain amount and what Real Madrid has offered," the Dutchman stressed.

"When you say something you have to know something, but you don't know and then you say in a suggestive way we have to be proactive. You cannot be proactive. We are asking for money and they have to pay money, it's always like that.

"But in the last few years Manchester has paid a lot of money and we have never received a lot of money for our players."

See pictures of United training this week below