Javier Hernandez has revealed that he decided to leave Manchester United after manager Louis van Gaal informed that he had "only a 1% chance of playing".
Upon Van Gaal's arrival at Old Trafford in 2014, Mexican frontman Hernandez was loaned out to Real Madrid for the season.
He returned this summer and made three appearances for United at the start of the campaign, only to be sold to Bayer Leverkusen towards the end of the transfer window.
Speaking about why he departed the Red Devils, the 27-year-old insisted that Van Gaal's revelation gave him little option but to move on.
"I didn't have the intention to leave [on loan in 2014], but I wanted to more playing time. Van Gaal told me that he already had his strikers, that I would have to fight for a place but could take an offer if an opportunity arrives," he told Spanish TV show Fiebre Maldini.
"The board told me that I could go on loan to Real Madrid and it was not a difficult decision for me."
"Then I returned to Manchester. I started to have opportunities but one day I spoke with Van Gaal and I had only a 1% chance of playing so I needed to make magic. So I moved Bayer."
Since his arrival in Germany, Hernandez has found the net on 17 occasions in all competitions.
Liam Apicella
