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David De Gea was axed for the rest of the month by Louis Van Gaal yesterday and will be replaced by a youngster told he had no future with the club.

Sam Johnstone is expected to get the nod ahead of Argentina international Sergio Romero for United’s Premier League opener against Spurs at Old Trafford this lunch-time.

Van Gaal claims de Gea has been badly affected by the protracted summer attention from Real Madrid, saying: “He shall not play. A player is also a human being. He cannot manage that.

“We have seen his training and matches. He is not the De Gea of last year.

“He tries and does his best but it is a difficult situation. Now we have to play our first match, the most important match and I want players only focused on the match. He is not capable of doing that.

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“He is the best keeper we have had in three years. Two years nominated by the fans as the best player at this club. Do you think then that the coach wants him to leave? I don’t think so.

“When it is September 1 a decision is then made... transfer period is over and then you have to manage the new situation. That is maybe easier. We will have to wait.

“I am the victim. The fellow players are the victims. The club is the victim. That is why the transfer period has to change.”

Dutch boss Van Gaal has warned Madrid they will have to stump up big money to land the £25 million rated Spanish keeper and he is annoyed that De Gea’s situation has not been sorted out by now.

It has left Van Gaal with a keeper crisis. He has fallen out with back up Victor Valdes who has been told he will be sold, Anders Lindegaard is available on a free, and Romero is not deemed fit enough.

MORE: Who is Sam Johnstone - All you need to know

(Image: John Peters)

Johnstone, 22, spent the second half of last season on loan at Preston, and there was an agreement for him to return there after United returned from their summer tour.

He was told in January he had no part in the club’s plans, but now the 6 feet 3ins Lancashire lad will make his first team debut having played most of the games for United in pre-season.

In a stern message to Real to do a deal for de Gea or back off, Van Gaal added: “We have to pay for all the players a certain amount. What Real Madrid has offered...

“We are asking money and they have to pay money. It is always like that. In the last last few years Manchester have paid a lot of money and have not received a lot of money for our players.”

Van Gaal added: “We have problems with De Gea. It is in a process. I cannot lead this process. I can only watch and observe and that is what I am doing. I am not participating.”