Manchester United Transfer News: Louis Van Gaal's Exodus Verdict Harsh but Fair

It's often hard to hear the truth when spelt out under negative circumstances and Louis van Gaal's decision to cut Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley loose this summer was as cutthroat as it comes.

Two players raised up through the Manchester United academy parted ways for Arsenal and Aston Villa, respectively—Cleverley on loan—but Van Gaal gave his assessment of why Welbeck fell short, per Richard Tanner of the Express:

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I've given all the players the chance to convince me of their qualities. When you ask about Danny Welbeck, he was here from when he was nine and after Sunderland [on loan] he plays three seasons at Manchester United but he doesn't have the [scoring] record of Van Persie or Rooney and that's the standard. That's why we let him go.

I spoke to him and Chicarito [Hernandez] even before we had the chance that we could get Falcao. We have to be fair on that because, for example, I see in that part [of the squad] we have a lot of youth players that can fit in and now they have to take their chance to play football.

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At one point, Welbeck seemed like a certainty to become a future superstar. Many minds will glance back to the first Premier League goal of his career, a 30-yard strike against Stoke City in November 2008 that had initially heralded the coming of a potential hitman for the years to come.

However, his story of recent years has been sorely unfortunate in the competition he's had to go up against, with Van Gaal giving his opinion of the latest striker rival to arrive at Old Trafford, Radamel Falcao, per Tanner's report:

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I have to put them in the squad but when you can hire or buy a player like Falcao then I don't have any doubts because he for me is one of the best strikers in this world and when you see his record it's unbelievable.

Today in the training session he gets one chance and it was in the goal, so he confirmed it in his first training session with me. But when I say this I put too much pressure on him and that is not good because I know that it's very difficult to come from another club to Manchester United in a new process.

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Soon to turn 24, Welbeck is close to coming out of that period in one's career where the terms "youngster" and "prospect" are batted about. As such, the excuses made for one so juvenile begin to wane in number, and results are what's expected in their place.

Similarly, at the age of 25, Cleverley is no longer a figure for whom a failure to meet requirements is acceptable, his performances in the Old Trafford engine—and indeed England's—having caused debate for some time.

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To put it bluntly, it's a risk that United can in no uncertain terms run at present, and the acquisitions of Angel Di Maria and Falcao provide the most telling evidence that surefire results are what's wanted above all right now.

And it's not as though United's youth products are being moved on without ever having received their shot in the first team. Paul Little of the Irish Daily Star attests as much:

In the last two seasons at United, each player averaged more than 30 appearances for the club, Welbeck slightly more involved than his fellow England international, but by no means were either ostracised by their employers.

No matter how much sentiment there is in the hopes of seeing homegrown talent succeed, it simply doesn't always produce the sought-after happy ending, especially in the results-driven industry that is top-flight football.

It's fair to say that in Welbeck's case, things may have indeed ended more happily were it not for the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Falcao blocking his path.

The Red Devils not too long ago enjoyed arguably their greatest era of success, and with Sir Alex Ferguson's dynasty drawing to a close, instant impact was perhaps valued over the promotion of youngsters.

One might debate whether that's right or wrong in the grand scheme of things, but in the rejuvenation project United are currently fixated upon, good-but-possibly-great doesn't quite cut it.

As Van Gaal stated, the pair now make room for younger and potentially brighter youths to try their hands among the seniors, showing that not all sense of ideology has been lost, and even greater prizes may come years down the line as a result.