VICTOR VALDES

The former Barcelona goalkeeper refused to play in a reserve-team match last season, which prompted Louis van Gaal to condemn the Spaniard publicly for not "following our philosophy" and vow to sell him. Valdes reacted by posting an image on Twitter of three reserve-team games in which he played. A proposed move to Besiktas collapsed last month and he has been omitted from United's 26-man Champions League squad.

ANGEL DI MARIA

The Argentina winger's poor relationship with van Gaal was the main reason for him wanting to leave Old Trafford for Paris Saint-Germain only 12 months after his move to United for a British record fee of £59.7 million (S$130 million).

"Van Gaal has his philosophy and that was one of the things that made me want to leave," he said. "It is difficult to adapt to van Gaal. I had a couple of rows with him."

MARCOS ROJO

The Argentina defender was placed on a collision course with van Gaal after being unable to join United on their pre-season tour to the United States in July because of problems with his passport and visa. The pair are reported to have had another run-in subsequently.

DAVID DE GEA

Van Gaal angered de Gea by declaring publicly that the United goalkeeper had said that he was "not eager to play" against Tottenham Hotspur on the opening day, a claim that the Spaniard fiercely disputed.

De Gea had hoped to join Real Madrid but a collapsed move has left him stuck with the Dutchman for now.

ROBIN VAN PERSIE

The striker, who was the Netherlands' captain under van Gaal in the World Cup finals last year, claimed that he was not given an "honest" chance to win back his first-team place at United. "I know Louis as a national coach and now I get to know him as a club coach and there is a difference," he said. Van Gaal claimed that he sold van Persie to Fenerbahce because he decided that the striker could not deliver what he wanted.

RAFAEL DA SILVA

The right-back, sold to Lyon in the summer, claimed that van Gaal did not like him as a person. "I know this history that he doesn't like Brazilians but I can't say 'Oh, he doesn't like Brazilians'. I know he didn't like me but, if that's because I'm Brazilian, I don't know," da Silva told Brazilian news outlet Globo Esporte after his seven-year spell at United ended.

JAVIER HERNANDEZ

The striker, who joined Bayer Leverkusen last month, felt excluded by van Gaal at United.

"I want to go back to feeling important and happy," the Mexico international said. "Bayer made me feel wanted."

THE TIMES, LONDON