Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has urged goalkeeper David De Gea to put his failed transfer to Real Madrid from Manchester United behind him and focus on being a “good professional”.

De Gea’s move to Real was wrecked in bizarre circumstances on Monday when the paperwork was not delivered in time.

Real and United blamed each other for the bureaucratic chaos, which means De Gea will remain in Manchester, while Real’s Costa Rica keeper Keylor Navas, who was meant to join United as part of the deal, stays in Madrid.

De Gea, whose United contract expires at the end of the season, could find himself in limbo, at least until the end of the year when the market opens again.

While the transfer saga rumbled on last month, Manchester United coach Louis van Gaal left the 24-year-old former Atletico Madrid goalkeeper out of the squad, with Argentina’s Sergio Romero playing instead.

“I don’t want to say anything drastic about what we will do,” Del Bosque, who has hinted De Gea will not be selected if he is not playing regularly, said.

“We have to wait and see what happens and the important thing is that David De Gea looks to the future and is a good professional,” he added.

“We have to hope that he can play for (United) and is active so we can count on him in future (Spain) squads and he can show what a good keeper he is.”