David de Gea tells Louis van Gaal: 'Don't sell Juan Mata'

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has urged the club's new manager Louis van Gaal not to sell Juan Mata this summer.

The Spaniard only arrived at Old Trafford from Chelsea for a club-record £37.1m in January, but reports had suggested that Van Gaal, who recently signed a three-year contract to take charge of United, would not be adverse to parting with the playmaker.

However, De Gea believes that his fellow Spaniard is a "very important" player for United.

"I would not sell Juan Mata. He is a very important player for us. We have taken a qualitative leap with him and he has adapted very well," he told Movistar.

Earlier today, both De Gea and Mata were named in Spain's 23-man World Cup squad.