Hristo Stoichkov has warned Pedro Rodriguez away from Louis Van Gaal’s Manchester United. “He destroyed Barcelona, now United.”
Pedro is thought to be on the verge of a move to United, once Neymar is over his bout of mumps and if the Premier League team trigger the winger’s release clause.
Stoichkov, who spent a year under Van Gaal in his second spell at Camp Nou, Van Gaal’s first, has told Onda Cero that the Dutchman is flattering to deceive at his current post.
“Players suffer, because as a player he was so mediocre. He destroys players because he was so mediocre. Look at the players who have left because of him,” the former Bulgaria international said, Marca reports.
“His first time at Barca he destroyed them, now he has invented another one to destroy and take years to rebuild.
“It turns out he needs €200m to spend and the other day I saw his first Premier League game. It was a disaster. United won 1-0 with an own goal and he’s content. You have to have a short memory.
“I would never leave if I was Pedro, never, because if he goes there he’s just another player. I wish he would listen to me and say ‘I’m staying in Barcelona.’
“Barca don’t need the money, no matter if its €20m, €30m or €50m. Pedro is a symbol of Barcelona…if I’m there one day, I never sell a committed guy, with energy, who fights to be great.”
Stoichkov also weighed in on Tueday’s UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla, the latest leg of a potential sextuple that also includes the Supercopa de Espana double-header with Athletic Bilbao.
“First is this game, the most important, and thinking of other games and other trophies I don’t think is good for anybody,” he remarked.
“It’s much easier to think game-by-game. It’s easier to win the first match and then we’ll see. There’s two games against Bilbao.
“But the team is going out for this trophy, the European Super Cup…it’s an important trophy to have.”
