Manchester United Transfer News: Van Gaal Declines Comment on Neymar Rumours

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal refused to comment on the rumours linking his club with a move for Barcelona star Neymar, which surfaced on Friday, taking a familiar stance during his press conference after the 0-0 draw against Newcastle United.

As reported by Goal's Sam Lee, he said:

"

I don't enter in this discussion. You can ask about all the players in the world and you are doing it every press conference and every press conference I have to say the same. 

I have to protect the interests of Manchester United, I have to protect the players in my selection, I have to protect the people in my organisation, and you can say anything, you can mention every player but I cannot anwer these questions. 

So that's the difficulty. I know your problem because the media wants to know that but I cannot say that.

"

On Friday, the Sun's Shaun Custis reported the Red Devils have been in “secret talks” regarding a move for the Brazilian superstar, a report that sent shockwaves through social media but was almost universally ridiculed. Neymar's agent, Wagner Ribeiro, immediately denied the rumours, per Sky Sports' Paulo Freitas, and a host of pundits wondered why people would ever believe such a move would materialise.

The London Evening Standard's Liam asked his followers for the thought process behind leaving Barcelona at this particular moment:

Sky Sports' Guillem Balague also weighed in on the report:

The summer transfer window is sometimes referred to as “silly season" for good reason, and the report on Neymar wasn't the only story to raise eyebrows on Friday. BeIN Sports' Tancredi Palmeri claimed Chelsea would break the current transfer record―and then some―for Juventus star Paul Pogba just hours prior.

Manchester United remains one of the biggest clubs in all of football, so it's only natural for Van Gaal's squad to be linked with the very best players in the world. The team's attack has looked toothless early in the season and is in dire need of a quality addition, and there's no denying someone like Neymar would be the perfect addition.

The 23-year-old is highly unlikely to be leaving Barcelona anytime soon, however. The Catalans won every competition they entered last season and are determined to defend their La Liga and Champions League crown in 2015-16. They field arguably more talent than anyone else in the world, with the attack in particular stealing the headlines.

Neymar is a wildly popular figure among the Blaugrana faithful and the youngest member of the attacking trio, playing alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. The Blaugrana see him as the face of the club for the future, so a sale is completely out of the question at this particular moment.

That won't stop the media from speculating, however, and once the rumour is out there, you can bet at least one reporter will have the courage to bring it up during one of Van Gaal's press conferences. Credit the Dutchman for handling the question so well, although his refusing to answer it outright will probably only lead to even more of these rumours.

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