Manchester United Signed Louis van Gaal After 'Failing to Get Carlo Ancelotti'

Manchester United tried to sign Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti in the summer but the former Chelsea manager rejected their proposal, reports in Spain claim.

After the Premier League giants sacked David Moyes, who is now in charge of Real Sociedad, United began their search for a new manager. According to Spanish newspaper Marca, their first choice was Ancelotti and not Louis van Gaal.

Reports in the summer claimed the Italian manager was on a shortlist of candidates that included Borussia Dortmund's Jurgen Klopp and Atletico Madrid's Diego Simeone.

Earlier this year, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez admitted Sir Alex Ferguson had asked Ancelotti to replace him at United the previous summer but the Italian manager, who was in charge at Paris Saint-Germain, decided to move to the Bernabeu instead.

Marca claimed there were a second approach in the summer but "the answer was again a resounding no".

"He did not even give them the chance to meet and United finally signed Van Gaal," Marca said.

The Spanish newspaper suggested "United are still keeping a close eye on how things pan out for the Italian" but after winning the Champions League and the Copa del Rey in his first season in charge of the club, Ancelotti recently said he intended to stay at Real Madrid for the long term.

Ancelotti said: "I hope [to be in the history of Madrid] not only for la Décima. I have a contract until 2016 and we are talking about my renewal."