Former FC Barcelona star Hristo Stoichkov has blasted Louis van Gaal, urging Pedro to not join him at Manchester United. Stoichov claimed that the “mediocre” Dutch manager is “destroying” the Premier League club in the same way he “destroyed” the Catalan giants.
Pedroa s future at FC Barcelona has been subject of intense speculation despite the player signing a new deal in the summer.
The arrival of new signing Arda Turan to add to the already existing trio of Neymar, Messi, Suarez means Pedroa s chances might be limited at the club.
The player himself was quoted saying earlier that he was unsure about his future and his buyout clause recently dropped from a 150 million to a 30m
Manchester United and Chelsea FC have been heavily linked with a move for the player with the former, favorites to land him following the departure of Angel Di Maria to PSG.
Stoichov warns Pedro against playing for van Gaal
However, Bulgarian superstar Hristo Stoichkov, a five-time Spanish League winner and European Cup champion with FC Barcelona who fell out out with Van Gaal in 1998, has warned Pedro that he needs to look at the way in which former goalkeeper Victor Valdes has been treated at Old Trafford to understand what it is like to be playing under the Dutchman.
“I would never be under the orders of Van Gaal,” the 49-year-old told Spanish radio Onda Cero, as per goal.com.
“He’s mediocre. He destroyed Barca and is destroying Manchester United.
“With what he has done to [Victor] Valdes he has shown he is a bad person. Hopefully Pedro listens to me and doesn’t leave.”
A history of confrontation
Stoichkov had two spells at the Nou Camp from 1990 to 1995 and from 1996 to 1998 and this is not the first time he has blasted van Gaal.
He was quoted saying by Sky Sports, earlier in March: “I have no respect for Van Gaal. He’s garbage as a person.
“Once, we went to the Bernabeu after I had been injured on my knee and he made me play left-back.
“On another day, while I was injured, he went to my wife and asked her how it was possible that she married such a bad person like me.
“My wife had responded that I had won the Ballon d’Or.
“The happiest day of my life was when I joined Barcelona and the saddest when I left. And it was Van Gaal’s fault.”