Atletico Madrid goalkeeper and Manchester United target David de Gea has revealed his two biggest idols were Old Trafford icons Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar.
The 20-year-old keeper, who is away with Spain's under-21 side in the European Championships in Denmark, is expected to seal a move to United at the beginning of next month, but the youngster says he is focused on his national team for now.
"I am trying to stay focused on the Euros for now because it's fundamentally important to our hopes that we all think only about that," he told AS in an interview.
Nevertheless, the keeper admits he is proud of United's interest in signing him.
"Manchester United are a great club and if they are interested in you, it's a compliment," he said.
The deal is set to go ahead early next month and not beforehand, because the negotiations have been handled by Portuguese agent Jorge Mendes, who will not represent De Gea until the beginning of July, when the deal with his current representative runs out.
However, the official line from the player is he wants to concentrate on the Euros.
"I'm just more relaxed if I focus on the Euros," he said.
"I want my head here, not somewhere else."
Despite those words, a move to United looks a formality, though, and De Gea will hope to follow in the footsteps of two of his idols.
"Edwin has been playing at 20 years at the highest level; he's a great goalkeeper and a big point of reference for me," he said.
"(When I was younger) I liked (Peter) Schmeichel a lot, as well as Van der Sar - they're the two best that I've seen."
