• Premier League

Van Gaal has earned Blind faith

Daley Blind is relishing the prospect of linking up with his former Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal again after completing his £13.8 million move to Manchester United.

Blind moved from Ajax to become United's fifth major summer signing shortly before the capture of Radamel Falcao on a dramatic deadline day at Old Trafford.

"It is a real honour to sign for Manchester United," Blind told United's official website.

"I have been at Ajax since I was seven years old and I will always have very fond memories of the club and of my time there.

"Louis van Gaal is a tremendously talented coach, I have worked with him at Ajax and also for the Netherlands national team and I cannot wait to work with him at the biggest club in the world."

Blind played a starring role for the Netherlands at the World Cup as Van Gaal's side recorded a third-placed finish.

He added: "I know him very well and it was very nice to work with him. I look forward to doing that here.

"It really was an amazing experience to play at a World Cup which has so much impact in the world. We had a really good team with the manager and the squad and it was like a family. It was really good to be part of it.

"He has put a lot of trust in me and I feel really good about that.

"He expects everything at 100% every day in training and in matches and everybody wants to produce that for him and also for yourself. That's one of the biggest strengths of the manager."

Van Gaal opted to use Blind in a variety of roles in Brazil, deploying him at left-back, left centre-back and in defensive midfield, and believes his new acquisition will prove similarly versatile at Old Trafford.

"I am delighted Daley has signed for the club," Van Gaal added.

"He is a very intelligent and versatile footballer that can play in many positions.

"Daley is a great reader of the game, he has played under my philosophy over a number of years and he will be a great addition to the team."

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