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David de Gea has thanked Louis van Gaal for welcoming him back after the collapse of his proposed move to Real Madrid - and insists he is 'really happy' he stayed at Manchester United.

The Spanish international has opened up about his relationship with Van Gaal - insisting there was no animosity between the pair even after a summer of uncertainty over his future.

De Gea admits it is ‘hard to be friends with any coach’ - but has spoken warmly of the Dutchman.

The pair’s relationship looked in danger of turning toxic after Van Gaal dropped his number one at the start of the season, claiming he’d been distracted by Real’s interest.

The United manager later suggested De Gea himself had intimated he’d rather not play amid speculation of a move to the Bernabeu.

Despite United accepting a £29m offer from Real, with Keylor Navas heading in the opposite direction, a deal fell through on deadline day after the paperwork failed to be submitted on time.

De Gea went on to sign a new four-year contract at United and was immediately reinstated by Van Gaal.

He said: “From the first I day I came back, after all that happened, he gave me a lot of confidence, told me I would play, to relax and keep doing what I had done before.”

De Gea has also given an insight into Van Gaal’s personality, adding: “He is a joker, makes a lot of jokes.

“Now and again likes to do something so that there is a good mood. But we talk mostly about football.

“From outside, you see a person with a lot of character, which is what he is.

“(He is) a hard and strong coach, but that is what we also try to transmit out on the pitch - that aggression and that attitude the coach has.

“He is very methodical, and in the end things are going well for us.”

Speaking to ESPN Deportes show Fuera De Juego, De Gea added: “In the end it is hard to be friends with any coach - you have a lot of respect for him, but it is difficult to be their friend.

“But he is a good person.

“You can talk with him about anything you want, and face to face he is sincere.

“We have a normal relationship between a coach and player. We both want what is best for the club.”

(Image: John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images)

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De Gea says he has no regrets about committing his future to Old Trafford.

“I felt in that moment that to extend my contract was the best thing to do,” he said.

“I’m really happy now, at one of the biggest clubs in the world, where I feel loved by the fans.

“Nobody let me down or disappointed me - these are things that happen. You must look forward, and I am very happy now.”