Former Manchester United midfielder Anderson has taken aim at Louis van Gaal.

Now with Internacional, Anderson says Van Gaal's time in charge hastened his departure from United.

“I needed to be playing; I was 25, not 21. I went on loan to Fiorentina [in January 2014]. Beautiful city and club; you can live very well in Florence. We got to the final of the Italian Cup," Anderson told ESPN FC.

“Then I came back to United and [Louis] van Gaal arrived (Anderson shakes his head). I respect Van Gaal, but football had changed and he was not successful anymore.

“He gave silly instructions for everything, even in training. He was like a robot. I decided to leave. I told Van Gaal that I wanted to leave. He said I could go.

“I was leaving a club, which wasn't the same. The spirit was going, players were leaving. How did he let a player like Di Maria go so quickly?

“He's a sick player. Van Persie lost the love, too. Everyone started saying: We'll go.

“Van Gaal's philosophy was no longer working. It's hard in the Premier League to play robotic: pass, pass, pass."