What Bastian Schweinsteiger told Man United ace David de Gea when he asked if he was better than Manuel Neuer

Former midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has revealed that Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea once asked him if he was better than Bayern Munich and Germany shot-stopper Manuel Neuer.

Neuer, who will celebrate his 37th birthday later this month, is widely regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world and one of the greatest of all time. The German has transformed the art of goalkeeping, becoming the best sweeper 'keeper on the planet in recent years.

He is also an excellent shot-stopper, meaning he will go down as one of the greatest of all time. He has enjoyed a trophy-laden career, featuring 10 Bundesliga titles, two Champions League crowns and one World Cup.

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Despite all of that, De Gea, who recorded his 17th clean sheet of the season in all competitions during United's goalless draw with Southampton on Sunday, plucked up the courage to ask Schweinsteiger, following the German's arrival at Old Trafford in 2015, if he was better than Neuer. The midfielder, of course, had spent several years playing alongside the goalkeeper, both for Bayern and Germany.

Schweinsteiger, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, said: "David de Gea, when I first came to United he said to me, 'Tell me, am I better than Manuel Neuer?' I said, 'No, you're not'.

"It's a different level. He was angry with me a little bit but I told him the reality. Whenever he had a great game he came to me after the game and asked me again.

"And I'd say, 'You're still not at that level'. You need to play with him (Neuer) to see. You need to train with him. Then you know for sure that he's the best goalkeeper in the world."

Schweinsteiger added: "David is a good goalkeeper, just not on that