Van Gaal left Manchester United in the summer of 2016 after two underwhelming years at Old Trafford.

Despite winning the FA Cup with a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace in his final season in charge, the Dutchman was axed with Jose Mourinho swaggering into town as his replacement.

Many feel Van Gaal was unfairly treated at the club and warranted one more year after landing them their first piece of silverware of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

And the 66-year-old clearly feels the same, choosing two choice words when talking about his old employers and revealing they stopped him taking the Belgium job.

"I think the manner in which Manchester United treated me was horrible, and treacherous as well,” he told Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant.

"I had plenty of offers of work after I left United. The Belgian FA wanted me to become their national coach.

"But I couldn't take a job with anyone for a year, because of the conditions United attached to my severance payment.

"So I missed out on the Belgium job, among others, despite thinking it would be a terrific challenge.

"I felt so resentful about letting this opportunity slip. It was stupid, as sporting considerations are the most important.

"But back then I felt it was more about taking revenge on United, and that they should have to pay me the maximum amount."

Van Gaal also felt that, when he was axed by Barcelona, the Catalan giants did it with more taste.

"The way Barcelona's president Josep Lluis Nunez behaved with me was fantastic,” he added.

"Not everyone in the world of football is a fake."