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David de Gea has refused to deny that the new contract he signed with Manchester United in September has a release clause that would allow Real Madrid to revive their interest in the goalkeeper by triggering it.

De Gea had appeared certain to leave United for Real in the summer before the deal collapsed in controversial fashion on 31 August, the final day of the Spanish transfer window. While United and Real both blamed each other for this occurring, De Gea then agreed a fresh four-year deal that ties him to the club until June 2019.

However, in doing so this allowed the goalkeeper to earn a vastly improved salary of up to £200,000 a week and United to protect a prime asset as De Gea’s value would have markedly decreased due to his former contract expiring in the next close season.

De Gea was believed to have been determined to join Real and the Spanish club to sign him. So if a release clause of around £30m – the approximate value of the deal which collapsed in August – was inserted into the contract this would allow De Gea and Real to revive the transfer, and for United to also receive an acceptable price for the keeper.

After Spain’s 1-0 victory over Ukraine on Monday De Gea refused to deny a clause is in the fresh terms he signed. Instead, De Gea suggested his agent, Jorge Mendes, be asked about this. “You should ask Jorge that question,” the 24-year-old said. “He is the one who pays attention to those sort of details.” United have also refused to comment on whether the clause exists when asked by the Guardian.