Wayne Rooney is odds-on to be Premiership top scorer after adding his 20th against Arsenal – see the odds here

Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal says he did not attempt to sign Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy because he did not think the player could stand the competition at his club.

Van Nistelrooy has joined Bayern’s Bundesliga rivals Hamburg on a free transfer from Real Madrid, where he was struggling for first-team football.

“I would not oblige him, because I just had a similar case with Luca Toni, who I let go (to Roma on loan),” Van Gaal was quoted as saying in the Bild newspaper.

“Toni could not deal with the competitive situation at Bayern. I think Ruud has the same problem. Otherwise he would have stayed in Madrid.”

Van Nistelrooy took Van Gaal’s comments with a pinch of salt.

“Mr Van Gaal is my friend, (he is) a very likeable guy. (He) just wants to irritate me a bit. I’m looking forward to seeing you soon in Munich.”

Wayne Rooney is odds-on to be Premiership top scorer after adding his 20th against Arsenal – see the odds here

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