Cody Gakpo aiming to pile on pain for Ruud van Nistelrooy after picking Liverpool over Man Utd

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. But Ruud van Nistelrooy spoke way too soon when he questioned .

It was just six games into the Dutch forward’s time at Anfield when Van Nistelrooy said Gakpo got it wrong by picking Liverpool over Manchester United. Maybe it was his loyalty to his former club but it was weird then, it’s very wrong now.

Gakpo didn’t set the world alight initially when he left PSV - where Van Nistelrooy was his manager - to move to Liverpool in January 2023. The Reds were struggling in one of their worst seasons under Jurgen Klopp but there were reasons for it and Gakpo’s signing was part of the German manager’s refresh of his squad, he just arrived a little earlier.

That was because Liverpool knew United were sniffing around the player. Van Nistelrooy knew that, too. He wanted Gakpo to join United. He said Gakpo wanted to join United, but he signed for Liverpool.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

"As far as I know, Gakpo has always dreamed of playing for Manchester United and he was in talks with Erik ten Hag since August,” Van Nistelrooy said in February 2023. "I also wanted him to play for United, but the club didn't make an offer in January.

“When I heard about Liverpool, I discussed it with him and told him to wait until the summer. Gakpo talked with Van Dijk in the last few days and he convinced him.

“Manchester United is a club that has always believed in young players and there Gakpo would find the right spaces to grow, especially when there are midfielders like Fernandes or Casemiro in the team today, but now things are different. Liverpool is not having a good season and this has consequences, because I know it very well and everyone will be affected.”

Van Nistelrooy will go up against his former player this weekend when Liverpool head to Leicester City. The fact it is a game which could secure the Reds the Premier League title proves to Gakpo that he made the right decision and that Van Nistelrooy’s words were not so wise.

Of course, it’s easy to pick them apart now. Back then, it did look like Ten Hag was turning United back into a top team but they soon went in the opposite direction. Coincidentally, it did start to unravel when they got stuffed 7-0 at Anfield by Liverpool a few weeks later. Gakpo scored twice that day.

The Dutch forward may have been a success at Old Trafford but given the changes there since then it would not have been easy. Instead, he is flourishing at Anfield under a bald Dutchman but it is Arne Slot and not Ten Hag. He has 16 goals this season for the Reds.

But if he gets more on Sunday to put Liverpool one step closer to the title and potentially relegated Leicester, Van Nistelrooy really will be wishing he joined United.

and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our