27.02.2015 18:40 h

De Gea dismisses talk of van Gaal rift

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has slammed reports of a rift with Old Trafford boss Louis van Gaal.

It was claimed this week that Spain international de Gea had not spoken to van Gaal for the last few months, adding to speculation that the reason for his failure to sign a new contract was his desire to join Real Madrid.

But the former Atletico Madrid star was keen to make it clear there was no truth in the rumours.

"Everything that has been written in the press about us not getting on is a lie," de Gea told MUTV on Friday.

"We both want the best for the club and the team, and the stories are complete lies."

De Gea's contract expires at the end of next season and United are keen to tie him to a new deal after a series of fine performances this term.

Few would have thought he was capable of such performances when at the start of his United career, when he made a series of mistakes that led many to question then manager Alex Ferguson's decision to sign him.

De Gea is confident those days are firmly behind him and he said: "I think this is the best period of my career. I am playing the best football that I've ever played.

"I'm really enjoying it at the moment and I'm just trying to improve with every training session and every game that goes by, giving 100 per cent and concentrating to the maximum. That's the way I want to continue."