DAVID DE GEA’S future remains in doubt after he was dropped for Manchester United’s season opener against Tottenham on Saturday.

The Spanish keeper watched on from the directors’ box as his teammates started the new campaign with a 1-0 win thanks to an own-goal by Spurs defender Kyle Walker.

It is claimed that De Gea wants a move to Real Madrid even though he is yet to comment publicly on his future.

However, following a discussion with the player in midweek Louis van Gaal opted to start with summer signing Sergio Romero in goal for the game at Old Trafford.

But when asked if he thought that De Gea would play for Manchester United again, the Dutchman said: “Of course. The position of goalkeeper needs the highest concentration, the highest focus during 90 minutes.

“When you are in circumstances where David de Gea is, it’s difficult to cope with that.

“We have observed him in preparation and in the matches against Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain and that was not the David de Gea, and he felt the same, of last year.

“But of course, when the situation has been cleared after the first of September (when the transfer window closes) then we look again.”

United went into the game looking for a better start to the season than they had this time last year when they were beaten at home by Swansea.

And they were lucky not to be behind when Christian Eriksen lobbed the ball over the bar after latching on to a pass from Harry Kane, before the England striker had a shot deflected wide.

Walker had a good effort blocked by Romero before poking the ball into his own net with Wayne Rooney lurking.

Following the goal the hosts failed to register another shot on target until the 65th minute when Ashley Young had a low drive saved by Michel Vorm.

And they could have rued the inability to kill off the game as the visitors finished strongly, with Romero called into action twice in the dying embers of the game.

But the Lilywhites were unlucky not to come away with a share of the spoils, especially having only arrived back from their pre-season tour on Thursday.

“If you see the game I think (our fitness levels) are higher than Manchester United,” said Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino. “But we were unlucky today that we didn’t score.”