Manchester United: David de Gea in Champions League squad
Manchester United have named David de Gea in their Champions League squad for their coming European campaign. De Gea, 24, has not featured for the United squad this season due to Louis van Gaal's concerns over the goalkeeper's frame of mind while he continued to be linked with a move to Real Madrid.
But after the Spaniard's deadline day move to the Santiago Bernabeu broke down in the dying minutes of the summer transfer window, he will remain at the club until January at the earliest. Should he play in the group stages of the Champions League now having been named in the squad, De Gea would be cup-tied for the knock-out stages of the competition if Real Madrid opt to revive their interest in the January transfer window.
De Gea has failed to even make the bench for United this term amid concern over his future at the club but could now be in line to return to the starting XI in the club's next game against Liverpool, which follows the international break.
One notable omission from United's Champions League squad list was Victor Valdes. The ex-Barcelona goalkeeper has been frozen out of the United squad since a public spat with van Gaal in July. The 32-year-old failed to secure a move away from Old Trafford during the final weeks of the transfer window and looks to have no future at the club.
There was also room on the list for attacking midfielder Nick Powell, who has not played for the club since September 2014 and full-back Guillermo Varela, who is still awaiting his first-team debut. United will take on PSV Eindhoven, CSKA Moscow and Wolfsburg in their group campaign.
Manchester United squad for the Champions League group stages;
David De Gea
Phil Jones
Marcos Rojo
Memphis
Juan Mata
Anthony Martial
Wayne Rooney
Chris Smalling
Michael Carrick
Daley Blind
Ashley Young
James Wilson
Sergio Romero
Ander Herrera
Nick Powell
Luke Shaw
Antonio Valencia
Marouane Fellaini
Morgan Schneiderlin
Guillermo Varela
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Paddy McNair
Jesse Lingard
Matteo Darmian
Andreas Pereira
Sam Johnstone
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