The PSV boss has lambasted Cody Gakpo’s decision to transfer to Liverpool in January, saying he advised a very different move, only for Virgil van Dijk to intervene.

Current PSV Eindhoven manager Ruud van Nistelrooy has massively criticized Cody Gakpo’s move to Liverpool.

Gakpo had been in scintillating form for Van Nistelrooy in the first part of the season, scoring 13 goals in the Eredivise and providing 17 assists. Yet the Dutch side couldn’t resist the millions on offer from Liverpool for the forward, and so he signed for the Reds just after Christmas.

Van Nistelrooy has since heavily criticized Gakpo’s decision to sign for Liverpool, with the former striker having urged him to move to his old club Manchester United instead.

“Gakpo’s dream move was Manchester United, he was in contact with [Erik] Ten Hag since last August,” said Van Nistelrooy to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.

“I also wanted him to join United — not just because it’s my club and I love them. But also because they are better than Liverpool and offer a lot more potential to their players.

“But United did not make a bid in January, so I advised him to wait ’til the summer. Something happened and he refused my advice and listened to Virgil [Van Dijk] who tempted him to join his team.

“He told me he wanted to move abroad in January. The fact is Liverpool is 10 times smaller than Manchester United, in every department.”

Gakpo has initially struggled since joining Liverpool, failing to score in any of his six games so far. It hasn’t helped that Liverpool has been going through a rough period since his arrival.

Even so, Van Nistelrooy’s assertion that Liverpool is ’10 times smaller’ than Manchester United is frankly ludicrous, and sounds like sour grapes from the former Red Devil over the fact that Gakpo chose Liverpool instead of his preferred option. As for the role Van Dijk played, having world-class players is always an added transfer pull.