Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has claimed that he has grown as a person after his move to Real Madrid fell through in the summer.

The 24-year-old was on the verge of leaving Old Trafford for the Bernabeu on the final day of the Spanish transfer window in August, but the deal collapsed after paperwork was not filed by the deadline.

De Gea has since signed a new four-year contract at United and has returned to his position as number one goalkeeper following a recent exile during the transfer saga.

"I am a guy who likes to leave the bad things and difficult times behind," De Gea told Canal +. "I spent a lot of tough times and I know what it is. We must move forward, working equally and always strong.

"It's a learning process that gives football hard moments but that make you mature and grow. These are things that you learn in the world of football. You have to keep working and try to improve in every training session."

De Gea is currently on international duty with Spain.