Louis van Gaal is one of several managers who have been at Manchester United since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure nearly 13 years ago.
Van Gaal managed the team from 2014 to 2016, leading them to an FA Cup victory. However, he was dismissed shortly after, as the club decided to pursue a different direction.
During his tenure, van Gaal brought in several players who he believed could enhance the team’s performance and align with his vision of a good playing style.
Notable signings included Anthony Martial, Daley Blind, Ander Herrera, and Luke Shaw, all of whom continued to play for United after van Gaal’s exit.
Recently, former Manchester United midfielder and current pundit Paul Scholes shared insights on why van Gaal signed Marcos Rojo from Monaco.
On The Good, The Bad, & The Football podcast, Scholes mentioned that van Gaal learned about Rojo through his grandson, who had mentioned him after playing FIFA.
Nicky Butt added that many kids today are very knowledgeable about players, often thanks to video games like FIFA, suggesting they could assist in recruitment.
Rojo went on to make 122 appearances for United over six years before transferring to Boca Juniors and then Racing Club.
Before joining United, the defender played for clubs such as Sporting CP and Spartak.
This revelation about Rojo’s signing indicates that modern methods can sometimes influence traditional scouting approaches.