Ever since Louis arrived at Manchester United he has made no secret of his admiration for Roma midfielder and Holland countryman Kevin Strootman. Van Gaal is generally loathe to talk about specific footballers that he wants to sign but it’s clear that Strootman is part of his plans at Manchester United if he returns to full fitness after a serious knee injury. Strootman has widely been reported as Manchester United’s top target.
‘I never usually say anything about individual players. It is my vision that we talk about a team and not individual players.
‘But Strootman I can judge. He is injured for more than six months. We have to wait and see how he comes back. It is not easy to say how he comes back from injury, but we will wait and see.’
We haven’t heard much from Strootman himself about a move to Manchester United – he will be focused only on returning to his best – but a new biography about Van Gaal gives a fascinating insight into the respect that the player feels for his ex-Holland coach.
“With him looking on, whether it’s during a training session or in a packed stadium, it’s not a matter of me wanting the ball,” Strootman says of Van Gaal. “No, I’ve got to have it. It is mine. It’s like an obligation I have to Van Gaal.”
It sounds as if Strootman would have no problem coming to work with Van Gaal again. You can’t help but feel that the stage is set for Manchester United to welcome the sort of charismatic and imposing midfielder – a player with that rare combination of grit and guile – that has been sorely missed at Manchester United in recent times.
Strootman made his comeback for Roma last week and, with over 6 weeks still to go until the window opens, Manchester United may have just about enough time to assess him ahead of a possible January bid.
But be it in January or July, fitness permitting, Strootman will surely be treading the boards at The Theatre of Dreams before long.
Manchester United fans: January bid?
