Van Gaal blocked my January transfer, United player reveals

Manchester United defender Guillermo Varela has revealed that club manager Louis van Gaal blocked his exit from the club in January.

The Uruguayan was set for a January loan move to Genoa though he was convinced otherwise by Van Gaal following further consultations.

“I spoke to the manager about my possible exit in January but he told me not to go. He promised that I would get play time at United,” Varela is quoted on Metro as saying.

The 22-year-old full back, who arrived at United in 2013, has only made five starts this season and made only one start this year, in the 3-0 win against Shrewsbury in FA Cup on Monday.

The full-back is set to feature in United’s return leg meeting against FC Midtjylland in UEFA Europa League today.

The Red Devils will be looking to overturn the 2-1 first leg defeat in order to have a chance of progressing to the last 16.

@benjaminwafula