Van Gaal claims Pedro and Nicolas Otamendi wouldn't have strengthened his Man Utd squad

Louis Van Gaal insisted it was his decision to pull the plug on Pedro deal

LOUIS VAN GAAL claims he did not sign Pedro or Nicolas Otamendi because he didn't think either player would improve his Manchester United squad.

 

Most observers believe United need attacking reinforcements and a centre-half and yet Chelsea beat them to the punch for former Barcelona raider Pedro, while Van Gaal insists he had no interest in former Valencia defender Otamendi, who has joined Manchester City.

But Van Gaal went on the attack yesterday by insisting it was his decision to pull the plug on Pedro after United had pursued the player for a month, and dismissed suggestions of a rift with the club's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward over the affair, even though one of Pedro's representatives suggested United had been "caught sleeping" by Chelsea over the deal.

 

"You can see my squad and you can see for every position we now have two players," he said. "We don't have to change, but when we can improve we shall do that, but only in our way and not in the way people are suggesting.

"If we had wanted Pedro, it [the deal] was not a problem [to complete] but when Manchester United wants a player he shall come."

Newcastle have also strengthened, Florian Thauvin becoming their fifth summer signing in a £13m from Marseille and taking the club's spending to £47.3m.

 

And he was not shy in revealing his ambition to become the greatest footballer on the planet.

"I hope to be one of the best players in the world. I need to make sure I work hard to achieve that goal," he said.

"I'm still a very young player with lots of years ahead of me. As for those Ribery or Platini comparisons [by Chris Waddle], ask me that question at the end of my career."

Toon fans will love his confidence but also be wary. For every David Ginola or Laurent Robert strutting their stuff there's been a Stephane Guivarc'h, Jean-Alain Boumsong or Hatem Ben Arfa.

"Every player is an individual," added Thauvin. "The Premier League is a very difficult league. Some may be suited to it more than others.

"I'm a fast player on the wing. I will keep the ball and give great service to the forward players. Hopefully I can bring something different to the team."