Pepe Reina says he has never advised David De Gea over his future at Manchester United

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has claimed he has never given any advice to Manchester United keeper David De Gea over whether he should stay at Old Trafford or move to Real Madrid.

De Gea's future at the Premier League giants has been under scrutiny this past year after several reports seemed to confirm Real Madrid have earmarked the Spaniard as their top priority to replace Iker Casillas.

And with De Gea's contract at Old Trafford set to expire in summer 2016, the Champions League winners are reportedly considering both to wait one season to secure his services as a free-agent or even to try to get his signature this summer for a cut-price deal.

In March Reina claimed De Gea should be happy enough representing Manchester United with some commentators interpreting his words as a message to the Spaniard to snub Real Madrid and stay at Old Trafford.

"He is one of the top keepers in Europe and this year he has been superb. Maybe Real Madrid are looking for a keeper and De Gea is one of the names suggested, but I think he should be happy enough to play for Man United," the Bayern Munich goalkeeper then said.

But asked during an interview with Spanish Radio station Cope whether he has really advised De Gea against moving to the Santiago Bernabeu, Reina responded: "I have never said De Gea he has to stay at Manchester United."

"He's a big boy and he'll go the way he sees fit. I just said he's in a great team and he's doing fine. He will surely have offers because he's a great keeper but it's he who has to decide. The words have not left my mouth: don't go to Real Madrid."

Meanwhile, Reina pointed out that his former national teammate Iker Casillas still has a year on his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu and, as the keeper himself recently confirmed, he is likely to stay.

"Iker has still one year on his contract at Real Madrid and his intention is to fulfil it," Reina said.