'Van Gaal was NOT Manchester United's first choice'

Manchester United’s first-choice replacement for David Moyes in 2014 was not Louis van Gaal, according to an Italian ‘super agent’.

Vincenzo Morabito claims that United had asked him to act as a middle man in a deal to lure Diego Simeone from Atletico Madrid.

United ended up agreeing a deal with Louis van Gaal in May for the Dutchman to take over at the end of Netherlands’ World Cup campaign, but Morabito reveals that came after Simeone rejected a move to the Premier League.

“In the spring of 2014, United contacted me - they had chosen Simone for to take over from Moyes,” Morabito told Corriere dello Sport.

“I called Natalia, his agent and sister, to organise a meeting in Madrid. When we arrived, Natalia greeted us in a hotel.

“Simeone wasn’t present as he had the return leg of the Champions League semi-final and was still trying to win La Liga. He didn’t want any further speculation. United made an offer, which required a response within 10 days. Diego said no.”