Van der Gouw 'surprised' by De Gea contract extension

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Raymond van der Gouw admits that he was surprised when David de Gea extended his contract at Old Trafford but has hailed the Spaniard as a "top-class goalkeeper".

De Gea was on the verge of a move to Real Madrid on transfer deadline day in Spain, only for the transfer to fall through in farcical circumstances at the eleventh hour.

The keeper duly signed a new four-year deal with the Premier League club and Van der Gouw, who spent six years at Old Trafford, is delighted with the sequence of events, though he admits that the Spaniard's u-turn took him aback.  

Speaking exclusively to Goal, he said: "It's a good thing. I was surprised that he renewed his contract at United. This transfer soap opera did take a surprising turn at the last moment but I'm sure there was a good reason."