Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero has revealed that he wants David de Gea to stay at Old Trafford.
The Argentina international made his third appearance for the Red Devils as United beat Club Brugge 3-1 in their Champions League play-off first leg on Tuesday night while De Gea was omitted from the squad by manager Louis van Gaal.
The 24-year-old has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid throughout the summer and the Dutchman does not believe that the shot-stopper is in the right frame of mind to play while his future remains uncertain.
Romero's place in the side would be at risk if De Gea's proposed move to Madrid does not materialise but the 28-year-old is still keen for the his teammate to reject the Spanish side's advances regardless.
"The truth is that I have no idea (if he will leave), but for me I hope that De Gea stays here because he's a good teammate who always works hard and that is best for the group.
"It is a difficult situation for him but when one is a great professional like he is and when one has a good head like his you keep training to get better day by day because you never know, he could play this weekend.
"He is a great team-mate, a great professional, a great person. It happened to me last year in Sampdoria. I was not playing but I was working as if I was going to play," he said.
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Romero arrived at United on a free transfer earlier this summer after he was released by the Italian club and has admitted that he is surprised to have been installed as first choice ahead of both De Gea ad Victor Valdes during th early stages of his spell in England.
"Yes. They are two fantastic goalkeepers. One has won everything and the other has his career ahead of him to continue to win things.
"For me it's a privilege and it makes me happy to work with those two."
Anders Lindegaard and Sam Johnstone are also at Van Gaal's disposal, but De Gea is expected to be re-installed as first choice if he chooses to stay at United.
