Football
Kevin Palmer 9y

Louis van Gaal wants Ronaldo for Man United, admits it's 'not possible'

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has ruled out making a move for Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo this summer, but he wants to sign match winners the calibre of Lionel Messi and Neymar who can change the course of games for his team.

United have been heavily linked with a bid for Ronaldo in recent days, but Van Gaal told reporters in America that there was no realistic chance of his team completing that transfer.

"Of course I would love it, but that's not possible," Van Gaal said when asked about a move for the player who left United in an £80 million deal in 2009. "You have Ronaldo and then you have how much Manchester United want to spend."

Van Gaal was a little more forthcoming as he spoke to the kind of player he is looking to sign after a summer that has already seen him spend big on Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin, Memphis Depay and Matteo Darmian.

"Chelsea have Eden Hazard, he can always make goals," Van Gaal stated. "Manchester City have [Sergio] Aguero, it's the same type.

"Barcelona have Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez. We, as Manchester United, have to compete with these clubs. So we have to look also for these kind of players.

"When it is possible to buy, for a reasonable price, players from that level, we shall do that, because they are better.

"We at Manchester United buy only players who can contribute to our level. You can write every player that you want, every name that you can say, but we cannot say that.

"It's also difficult to select the players, because you need the players, the club, the money and the price, so it's not easy as you think.

Van Gaal offered a less than flattering comment about his winger Ashley Young, who has questioned whether he has a future at United with his contract set to expire next summer.

"We have to be much better and we can use much more creativity," Van Gaal said. "Ashley Young had a fantastic season last time, but he is not a Neymar, and we have to compete with that kind of class."

Van Gaal concluded by stating he would consider extending his contract at United, despite claims in the past that he would retire when his three-year deal has expired.

"You never know, you can never say 'I go'," he added. "I have already said to my wife it might be that we extend in Manchester. But normally I have said to my wife that at 55 years I quit. And I'm still in the business and in two weeks' time I will be 64.

"I can walk away from it. I have already taken two sabbaticals. They were not for a year on either occasion, but it was very, very nice.

"And it was not cats and dogs with my wife. And I have a paradise in Portugal. So I can happily walk away from football and do other things. I know I can do that."

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