Louis van Gaal has urged Ajax star Matthijs de Ligt to choose Pep Guardiola over Lionel Messi and make a move to Manchester City.
De Ligt has become one of the hottest properties on the transfer market, with the 19-year-old centre-back captaining the Dutch giants to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Manchester United have been linked with De Ligt, but Standard Sport understands that the Red Devils are convinced that the defender is on his way to Barcelona.
De Ligt insists he has not yet decided on his future as he concentrates on the Nations League finals with Netherlands, but former United manager Van Gaal has weighed in by suggesting that the youngster should join the Red Devils' city rivals.
Asked by Fox Sports whether De Ligt would suit City, Van Gaal replied: "I think exactly the same.
"Although De Ligt can go to Barcelona too, because I don’t like their central defenders either.
"He could play at Barcelona, but he could play for Manchester City also, and in that case I would choose Pep Guardiola over Lionel Messi."
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is pursuing some of Britain’s best emerging talent in Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Daniel James and Sean Longstaff this summer after urging Ed Woodward to move away from the model of targeting marquee signings.
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