Juan Mata says Manchester United's David de Gea is focused on playing for Spain

Manchester United forward Juan Mata said today (2 September 2015) his team-mate David de Gea will know how to put his failed transfer to Real Madrid from Manchester United behind him, and focus on the national team. De Gea's move to Real was wrecked in bizarre circumstances on Monday 31 August, when the paperwork was not delivered on time. As the summer transfer window closed at midnight on Monday, the late delivery of this paperwork meant that De Gea would remain at Old Trafford.

Real and United blamed each other for the bureaucratic blunder. Because of this, Real's Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who was meant to join United as part of the deal, stays in Madrid. Speaking at a news conference previewing Spain's Euro 2016 qualifier against Slovakia, Mata said De Gea is focused on helping his country.

"David is now focused in the national team. We have two very important games to try to win to be first in the group, and obviously he is going to be very professional as he always used to be," he said. "He is my friend and I wish the best for him, but I'm sure he is going to manage the situation very well because he has always done it."

Del Bosque called up De Gea despite the fact that United coach Louis van Gaal has not used the goalkeeper so far this season. Asked if the De Gea's lack of action at Manchester United could halt his progress in the national team, Mata said Del Bosque has always relied on the 24-year-old goalkeeper. "I think he has the confidence of Vicente Del Bosque, which is the man who makes the decisions in the national team. I think he is quite focused now in the national team," the Manchester United midfielder said.