Mourinho: De Gea and Romero ‘equally important’

Matt Stead

Jose Mourinho has no intention of allowing “equally important” goalkeepers David de Gea and Sergio Romero to leave Manchester United.

The post-Sir Alex Ferguson era teething problems could have been so much worse were it not for the inspired form of De Gea, whose performances have led to him being crowned United’s Player of the Year for the past three seasons.

Such form has done little to cool reports of interest from Real Madrid – a club he was on the brink of joining in 2015, only for the transfer to collapse on deadline day in Spain.

Back-up Romero has also been linked with a move this week, as Boca Juniors in his native Argentina are apparently keen, but Mourinho wants to keep both goalkeepers at Old Trafford.

“What I can say is that I expect both to stay because I think both are equally important,” the United boss said.

“I cannot have a better goalkeeper than David. I cannot have a better replacement than Sergio, I cannot have a better professional than Sergio.

“I want them both to stay.

“So if there is something true in relation to Boca, I will try to stop it because I want Sergio to stay.”