Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has described reports that he is set to spend up to 200 million pounds ($312 million) in the transfer market as “disgusting” and “disrespectful”.
United spent around 150 million pounds in the close season on players, including British record signing Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid, in an effort to rebound from a poor campaign when they failed to qualify for this season’s Champions League.
According to British media reports, the spending spree is set to continue with the club linked to moves for a number of high-profile talents.
Van Gaal, however, reacted angrily to the figures being bandied around for the money he has available to bolster his squad.
“I think it’s disgusting, always writing about numbers,” the Dutchman told reporters.
“I don’t think that (United executive vice-chairman) Ed Woodward said anything about that; I don’t think I have said anything about that. It is disrespectful to my players and I don’t like to talk about it. I have to work with the selection I have and I have respect for my selection and I believe in my players.”
United are fourth in the Premier League but an early-season injury crisis has exposed weaknesses in their squad.
The lack of a commanding centre back has been a problem since the departure of stalwarts Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, while Van Gaal may also be tempted to move for a midfield general.
Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels and Atletico Madrid’s Diego Godin have been linked along with AS Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman.
Louis van Gaal has played down talk of a rift with Southampton boss Ronald Koeman before the Dutch pair face each other for the first time in the Premier League.
Van Gaal employed Koeman as his assistant at Barcelona from 1998 to 2000 and they combined to lead the Catalan club to the Spanish league title.
Their next working relationship wasn’t so happy, though, when van Gaal was appointed director of coaching at Ajax where Koeman had also become a title-winning manager.
Following a number of disagreements, van Gaal left 12 months later in 2005, to take charge at AZ Alkmaar and they have swapped barbs since.
With Koeman now manager of Southampton, the pair are preparing to lock horns at St Mary’s Stadium on Monday as they compete for a top-four place in the Premier League.
But van Gaal refused to fan the flames of the dispute and praised the work his compatriot has done since taking over in the close season and surprising many by leading the Saints into the race for Champions League places.
“I don’t have to describe my relationship with the trainer of the opponent,” said van Gaal.
“That’s more private I think. We play against Southampton and we have to speak about Southampton and not the coach.
