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Marouane Fellaini: Louis van Gaal never tried to force Manchester United exit

Marouane Fellaini insists that Louis van Gaal never tried to force him out of Manchester United during the summer transfer window.

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The 26-year-old midfielder was signed from Everton for 27.5 million pounds by former United boss David Moyes a year ago, though both endured poor debut campaigns at Old Trafford with the 51-year-old Scot being sacked just 10 months into a six-year contract.

The Belgium international faces stiff competition for places given the arrivals of Ander Herrera, Daley Blind and Angel Di Maria, and though an ankle injury scuppered a reported loan move to Napoli this summer, Fellaini is determined to battle back and win a place in Van Gaal's starting XI.

"I talked to Van Gaal and he has never said that I had to leave. He said I had a lot of competition, but that I will get the chance to prove myself," Fellaini told Dutch paper Sport Wereld.

"I have known difficult moments like last season, but you become a stronger player afterwards. I have confidence in myself and in my game again.

"I played a good World Cup and also during the preparation, I was good. It is unfortunate that this injury has thrown a spanner in the works, but at the end of the month I will be back."