Jose Mourinho, however, said that he had expected Pedro to join United and that he had had a “one minute conversation” with the forward to persuade him to join Chelsea.
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Louis van Gaal’s men completed the double over Newcastle, with Wayne Rooney helping himself to a first-half brace in a convincing 3-1 Boxing Day win at Old Trafford. Rooney’s new team-mate Memphis Depay stole the show against Club Brugge, opening his account for the club with two stylish first-half strikes before setting up substitute Marouane Fellaini for a stoppage-time header that put United firmly in control of the tie.
“And he said in a news conference: “[On] De Gea, I have said that we shall evaluate it on the first of September”.
“He took a risk I think (by saying that) but he is very confident that he can make the goals we expect from him and I have that confidence also”.
Wayne Rooney has scored 11 goals in 17 Barclays Premier League appearances for United against the Magpies.
Van Gaal launched a passionate defence of executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward despite the fact that former target Pedro signed for Chelsea this week, rather than United.
Manchester United have already had a busy transfer window with Louis van Gaal looking to reinforce his squad for a title challenge and the planned return to Champions League football.
When United hosts Newcastle on Saturday, Rooney will be searching for his first competitive goal for United since April 4, making it a nine-game drought going back into last season.
But 12 months later, the United manager is reaping the rewards of selecting a more settled line-up. “That is the difference”, argued Van Gaal.
The England captain’s best position is the no. 10 role but with Van Gaal only having Javier Hernandez and youngster James Wilson as his other recognised strikers, Rooney is now being unleashed as a full time number nine. I’ve experienced this criticism before and the goals will come, I know that. The same can not be said of Newcastle, who are for sure without several key rotation players and quite possibly will have to do without a pair of starters, including the heartbeat of their attack in Moussa Sissoko.
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The United boss insists the club will get the players they want – when they go for them. That is always the way of things – and probably his best is still to come.
