“You are here thanks to me” – Defender recalls time under ‘rules freak’ Manchester United manager

For four years, Matteo Darmian was a Manchester United player, enjoying various levels of success in the first team under both Louis Van Gaal and José Mourinho.

The defender, capable of playing in most positions in a back four, ended his time at Old Trafford with 92 appearances to his name, one goal and four assists.

Sent to Parma for a considerable loss of around £14m, the right-back is now at Inter, where he is thriving in a rotational role under Antonio Conte.

Darmian was interviewed by Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday as the Serie A club edge closer to a league title by the week, and he was asked about his managers at Manchester United.

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When it came to Van Gaal, he didn’t exactly hold back: “A rules freak. He was the one who wanted me at United. One of the first day in Manchester, he took me aside and said: ‘You are here thanks to me. You have my trust, you will play for you spot with [Antonio] Valencia. Know that the name doesn’t matter to me’. And so it was”.

Darmian undoubtedly enjoyed his football more under the Dutchman than his Portuguese successor, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the final manager he got to play under at Old Trafford.

It was the Norwegian, who brought in Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Crystal Palace, who oversaw his exit.

Still, his time in Manchester wasn’t in vain, as he has an FA Cup, a League Cup and a Europa League to show for it.