Louis van Gaal in early candidate for quote of the season by admitting 'Ashley Young is not a Neymar'

Van Gaal admits that United want to bring in world class players despite Young's strong run of form last season

Louis van Gaal has admitted Ashley Young 'is not a Neymar' (Getty Images)

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has already registered his candidate for quote of the season after admitting that Ashley Young "is not a Neymar". In other news, the sky is blue.

Van Gaal’s genius quote is no reflection on the tremendous season Young enjoyed last season – far from it in fact. The United manager applauded him for making the left-wing position his own despite the addition of £59.7m record signing Angel Di Maria, but he made the reference when comparing United’s transfer targets to the current players at rivals such as Barcelona.

With Neymar joined by Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi, Barcelona certainly have an attack to envy if you’re a manager or fan of another club, and despite Young’s best efforts, it’s almost certain that the trio would walk into the United first-team.

Van Gaal used the analysis to explain how the current United side is not quite his team yet as he seeks more “balance and creativity”.

“We only have a better balance of the team,” Van Gaal said in a round-table interview with a number of national newspapers. “It’s not my Manchester United yet.

“Why? Because we have to look for more balance in the team and for more creativity. For example, Chelsea have Eden Hazard, Willian and Oscar. There is a lot of creativity there. Manchester City have Sergio Aguero, it’s the same type.

“Barcelona has Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez. We have to look also for that kind of player.

“We look for more creativity and when it is possible to buy for a reasonable price players from that level we shall do that.

“You can expect things from Ashley Young. He had a fantastic season. But he is not a Neymar and we have to compete with that kind of class.”

With Di Maria set to bring his United career to an early end with a £45.9m move to Paris Saint-Germain, United certainly have the money to launch a move for a world class player of Neymar’s calibre. One of those linked has been former United favourite Cristiano Ronaldo, whose relationship with new Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez got off to a frosty start after a training ground dispute.

However, Van Gaal admitted that why he would like to sign Ronaldo, it is “not possible” this summer because of what United want to spend having already shelled out nearly £80m on new signings.