How Man United would've looked with 10 stars who manager revealed he wanted to sign

Almost a decade later, the list of 10 stars that former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal wanted to bring to Old Trafford makes for interesting reading.

After taking the reins in 2014, Van Gaal was abruptly sacked in 2016, just days after winning the FA Cup. The Dutchman oversaw signings of Anthony Martial, Memphis Depay, Angel Di Maria, and Radamel Falcao, but has since admitted that they were not his top choices, stating in 2020 that he ended up with "third, fourth or fifth-choice players".

In an interview with FourFourTwo, he disclosed his ideal signings would have included proven world stars like Robert Lewandowski, Neymar and Sergio Ramos. Here's what became of the players on Van Gaal's ambitious wishlist...

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Robert Lewandowski

During Van Gaal's era, United's attack was in flux, with Wayne Rooney nearing the end of his peak and Marcus Rashford just emerging. Van Gaal lamented inheriting an "old team" and aimed to inject fresh talent, eyeing Lewandowski as a potential game-changer.

"I inherited an old team that hadn't been refreshed for some time," he said. "I wanted to rejuvenate the squad with players who would bring the same kind of quality."

The Polish striker, who was still playing for Borussia Dortmund before he rejected any interest from England to move to Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich in 2014, would have brought that quality.

Who knows what his goal-tally would have looked like if he had been given a chance in the Premier League? Now with Barcelona, the 36-year-old remains a predatory striker, having scored 600 senior goals for club and country.

Gonzalo Higuain

"When this [signing Lewandowski] proved difficult, I tried to get Gonzalo Higuain instead," Van Gaal recalled. Like the Polish sharpshooter, Argentinian star Higuain was at the height of his career during Van Gaal's tenure.

He was considered one of Europe's top strikers and was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford. After previously excelling for Real Madrid and Napoli, Higuain turned down a Premier League move in favour of a transfer to Juventus in 2016 for a then-Serie A record £75million.

He eventually experienced English football during an unsuccessful loan stint with Chelsea in 2019 before retiring in 2022.

Neymar

Van Gaal's most audacious request was to sign then-Barcelona superstar Neymar, a task that would have been quite challenging. United were reportedly interested in the Brazilian, who was performing exceptionally well at the time.

He also suggested that Neymar "was also interesting for the club in terms of selling shirts". A year after United dismissed Van Gaal, Neymar made a £200m transfer to PSG. His stint in Paris ended last year and he is currently out of action due to an ACL injury following his move to Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal.

Sadio Mane

Van Gaal expressed his desire for "quick wingers," and when it became clear that Neymar was out of reach, Sadio Mane's name came up. The Senegalese star was enjoying brilliant form at Southampton during Van Gaal's tenure.

Just a month after Van Gaal left, Mane turned down United and signed for Liverpool for £34m, a deal that now looks like a steal given his success at Anfield. Like Neymar, he is now playing in Saudi Arabia for Al Nassr. It's intriguing to consider how different his career might have been had he chosen Manchester over Merseyside.

Riyad Mahrez

Riyad Mahrez, another of Van Gaal's targets, was instrumental in Leicester City's incredibly title win in the same season that saw him dismissed. The Algerian was still with Leicester when United reportedly expressed interest, but chose to join Manchester City in 2018 in a £60million deal.

After a successful stint at Etihad, which included the Treble, he moved to the Saudi Pro League, joining Al-Ahli in July 2023.

Thomas Muller

Van Gaal also had ambitions of making a bold move for the Bayern Munich stalwart. The accomplished German, a product of Bayern's youth system, has been linked with several top clubs throughout his career, including United, but has stayed put, reportedly turning down Van Gaal's advances twice.

Now 35, Muller continues to play an integral role for Bayern after retiring from international football with 131 Germany caps.

N'Golo Kante

N'Golo Kante was another player on the radar during Van Gaal's tenure at United. The Frenchman could have significantly changed the dynamic of United's midfield but it was Chelsea who landed Kante for £32 million.

His time at Stamford Bridge saw him collect a Champions League and FA Cup before his move last year to Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League.

James Milner

Van Gaal confessed that he "even tried to sign James Milner, who was already quite old but very multifunctional and possessed leadership skills".

Milner, who has been a faithful servant for various Premier League teams, joined Man City 2010. It's probable that it was during his final season with City that Van Gaal contemplated bringing the adaptable midfielder on board.

Instead, Liverpool capitalised on United's hesitation in 2015 and signed Milner, who won the Champions League and Premier League with the Anfield club. Milner, who transferred to Brighton last year at the age of 38, could have brought much-needed experience and versatility to United's squad if Van Gaal had his way.

Sergio Ramos

Securing Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos during his prime could have stabilised a United defence that continues to falter. Ramos graced the Bernabeu for 16 years, shining both domestically and for Spain.

He stayed with Los Blancos well beyond Van Gaal's departure, dismissing rumours in 2016 that he was ready to leave the Spanish club for long-time admirers United - eventually departing in 2021 for a spell with PSG.

He later returned to his childhood club, Sevilla, where his contract was terminated in June of this year. Although he announced his retirement from international football last year, Ramos has yet to reveal his plans at the club level.

Mats Hummels

The final name on a lengthy list of remarkable talent was Mats Hummels. Like Ramos, his signing would have significantly bolstered United's defence.

Hummels first caught the attention of Van Gaal during his initial stint at Borussia Dortmund, but when it came to making a decision in 2016, the centre-back opted for Bayern Munich. He returned to Dortmund in 2019 and has since moved to AS Roma on a free transfer in the summer.

Reflecting on the unsuccessful pursuits, Van Gaal recalled: "We couldn't get any of them. I don't know why. It surprised me, even though I understand that clubs hold out for the highest fee because they know United are the richest in the world. At the same time, though, if you are the richest, you'd expect to get what you want."

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