Van Gaal: David de Gea could join Real Madrid

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says the club will find it difficult to stop goalkeeper David de Gea joining Real Madrid in the offseason.

United has offered De Gea a lucrative new contract but Van Gaal says the chance of moving back to one of the world's top clubs — and to his native country — could be too hard to turn down.

Van Gaal says "he is Spanish, he is Spanish international, now a Spanish club is coming, his girlfriend is Spanish, his father and mother come every week or every two weeks here. So it is difficult."

De Gea came off with a right hamstring injury in the 1-1 draw against Arsenal on Sunday and may miss United's final game of the season, at Hull next weekend.