Manchester United Transfer News: Louis van Gaal Discusses Pedro's Chelsea Move

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has denied the club were interested in signing Pedro Rodriguez from Barcelona, saying the Red Devils could have completed the deal if they desired.

Pedro joined Chelsea on Thursday, per Sky Sports, despite constant rumours linking United with a move. Van Gaal tried to dodge the subject in his presser on Friday, before stating the Mancunians were never interested, reported by the Daily Mirror's Jack Lang:

"I cannot answer these questions [on Pedro], you know that," he said. "I have said it before, that what we are doing is a process. In that process we make decisions and I think when we wanted Pedro, it was not any problem. That is because there was a clause in his contract, so it was the easiest transfer."

Van Gaal also suggested the press helped push a seemingly no-go story along, per Lang:

"

You can write what you want, but we cannot say what we want, that is the difference.

I have the responsibility of protecting the interests of my club and my players. If you ask me if Pedro is fitting the profile [of United], I cannot lie, I say yes, but I didn’t say I am interested in the player. That is the difference.

"

Pedro was widely expected to join United before completing a shock move to Chelsea, amid rumours the Red Devils had suddenly given up their interest in the player, via ESPN FC's Miguel Delaney.

Plenty of fans had a hard time believing the Mancunians simply walked away from the negotiating table, allowing Chelsea to swoop in and complete the deal, and the entire saga was the subject of mockery on social media. Copa90 joined in on the fun:

"

Leaked footage of when Geoff Shreeves asked van Gaal if he was bothered Pedro chose Chelsea over United... https://t.co/vMTn9vaBnO

— Copa90 (@Copa90) August 20, 2015"

Even the reporters present during Friday's press conference were skeptical, and Van Gaal was having none of it. BBC Radio Manchester's Bill Rice may regret pushing the subject:

Manchester Evening News' Samuel Luckhurst also had a hard time digesting the comments:

In all likelihood, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Van Gaal admitted Pedro fits the profile of the kind of player the club looks for, and following the departure of Angel Di Maria to Paris Saint-Germain, the signing of a star forward was expected.

But the Red Devils already have a number of players capable of playing behind the main striker, and youngsters Memphis Depay and Adnan Januzaj have so far impressed early in the season. United need another striker to provide Wayne Rooney with some healthy competition, and for all of his qualities, Pedro simply doesn't fit the bill.

With Depay and Juan Mata playing out wide and Januzaj taking up a central role, Van Gaal's attacking lineup looks almost set. Rooney remains the only question mark after a poor start to the season, and even if he does return to form, Bleacher Report UK's Jonathan Wilson wonders whether he can be the answer up front:

The addition of another striker could complete United's summer, and with the likes of Memphis, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin all moving to Old Trafford, fans should have few reasons to complain.

Sure, Pedro would have been another fine addition to the squad, but if a top-class striker is brought in to compete with Rooney for the starting position, fans will soon forget the club was linked with the Spain international before he moved to west London.