"?Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has insisted that David de Gea will remain with the squad at Euro 2016, despite being named in a sexual assault case on the eve of the tournament.
The Manchester United stopper has denied being involved in the case, after he was named by a protected witness as the party who arranged and paid for an encounter between a pair of Spanish Under-21 players and two women in a Madrid hotel in 2012.
Del Bosque: we have never considered sending De Gea home. By @sidlowe https://t.co/TnWq9gq4RC #Esp (Pic: AFP) pic.twitter.com/wWgLG1ZQia
"?Del Bosque told the press: "I think De Gea has given all the explanations he had to give and he has made it clear that he has nothing to do with this issue. He said that to the whole squad too.
"We all met up and the lad, calmly and sincerely, has explained that he has nothing to do with this issue. The squad is here to support him at all times and to give him the affection he needs at these times. Everything is normal and we'll carry on."?
He continued: "We have never considered [sending De Gea home]. This was a surprise for us. We waited for the lad's explanations. It seems that he has done nothing and I have to believe him."
De Gea: It's a lie and it's false, I just want to train and do what I like to do https://t.co/H1XaxujEsB
However, the 65-year-old refused to guarantee the goalkeeper his place in the Spanish team for their opening match of the tournament against the Czech Republic on Monday, saying: "We're in a period of reflection and we have to think it over. You have to think things over in life. I can't say now whether he will start or not."?
De Gea himself made a brief statement on Friday, saying: "I am very, very calm. I know what I do with my life. It is all false. I have no idea [where it comes from] and how it came to be in the press. It's a way of sullying someone's image. That's it."?
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EXCLUSIVA | Una testigo protegida implica a los futbolistas De Gea y Muniain en el caso del empresario porno Torbe https://t.co/6o3sHtzHnz