Van Gaal also said he couldn’t comment on reports linking with United with Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos, the Manchester Evening News reports.
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When asked about more incoming transfers, patricularly around the signing of a new striker, Van Gaal said “He’s in the process”. If I am playing as a striker then I will be disappointed if I can not do that again. At that point I didn’t think to leave. The buccaneering style which won him countless plaudits in his time at St Mary’s was in clear evidence in San Jose, suggesting the manager’s approach to coaxing better displays out of his flagging stars is exactly where it needs to be. For comparison, Mario Balotelli (5.4), Sergio Aguero (5.2) and Wilfried Bony (5.0) were the only players last season in the Premier League to average at least five per 90 (minimum 200 minutes played). Fighting to get back in the team wasn’t given me as an option. “The pre-season is important because I need to be fit for all the season and working hard now makes that easier to achieve”.
Rooney, 29, was used in midfield for much of a year ago.
The Red Devils now have three stoppers in their first-team fold in the shape of David de Gea, Victor Valdes and Anders Lindegaard, but with the two Spaniards rumoured to be on their way out of Old Trafford and the Dane having not played a Premier League game since April 2014 it remains unclear who will be at the club come the end of the summer transfer window. And I’m a mature player.
“I hope to score 20 or more goals again”, declared Rooney, who has struck 48 goals for his country. Both players may want the moves but the big difference is that Ramos still has two years left on his deal while De Gea is now in his final year, so Madrid are in no immediate rush to sell.
“Obviously with the four new players coming in, there is a lot of excitement within the squad”.
“But I was still thinking we could come back from holiday and start from scratch”.
“Can we challenge for the title?”
After Tuesday’s match, United will face Barcelona on Saturday before wrapping up their tour against Paris Saint-Germain in Chicago.
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“Tottenham is the game we are all preparing for”, he said. “I will now focus on my preparation”. It made it a really hard start for us.
