That's according to pundit Shaka Hislop.

De Gea, 26, nearly joined the Spanish giants in 2015 and is a long term target for the La Liga champions.

However, with the goalkeeper penning a new contract after his failed move to Madrid, Chelsea star Thibaut Courtois was backed to join Real.

But Hislop says Zinedine Zidane has always wanted De Gea, not Courtois.

"I never thought for a moment that Florentino Perez would have wanted anyone at Real Madrid other than David De Gea," Hislop said on the BBC.

"Never mind the talk about Courtois, never mind about Donnarumma.

"I always thought their No.1 choice was David De Gea.

"If they didn't get him they already had a very good goalkeeper on their books.

"That's right where we are back to now.

"We've made a full lap of the board, we've past go, we've collected $200 and we're back to Real Madrid having Keylor Navas on their books but still trying to attract David De Gea."

Starsport understands United will reject a fresh bid from Real for De Gea.

Real bosses are poised to table a £60m bid for the goalkeeper in a move which is guaranteed to increase the bad blood between the two clubs.

United have made it clear De Gea is not for sale, but the Spanish side know he harbours a long-standing ambition to return to Madrid and will not give up hope of luring him to the Bernabeu.