Louis van Gaal has continued his war of words with former club Manchester United after urged compatriot Daley Blind to pursue a move to Barcelona. The Netherlands international has been on the periphery of the United first-team this term, and Van Gaal feels the versatile defender is better off joining the Spanish La Liga.

Van Gaal watched Barcelona outsmart Real Madrid by a 3-0 scoreline in the El Clasico, and shortly after the game, he stressed that Blind should move on from Old Trafford, where he has not started a Premier League match since August. He said: “Daley Blind is better off going to Barcelona, than staying with Man United. He is not even on the bench for United sometimes. Daley can play in more than one position and at Barcelona he would never be sat in the stand.”

“I think Daley would fit in better at Barcelona anyway. His level and his style of play is more suited to Spain than England. He can operate as a central defender who builds up the play. He can be a defensive midfielder or an attacking left back. Daley can do it all.”

Barcelona have got the left-back position covered with the likes of Jordi Alba and Lucas Digne, but they could do with the services of Blind in the central defensive department, where they are preparing for the departure of Javier Mascherano.

Mascherano has an agreement in place to join Hebei China Fortune in the New Year, and this could potentially leave them short at the heart of the backline with Samuel Umtiti still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained earlier this month.

Palmeiras’ Yerry Mina is another who has been associated with a winter switch to Barcelona, although his employers have stressed that the Catalan giants only have a summer agreement in place to pursue the Colombia international.