Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal has insisted he did not enter the race to sign Ruud van Nistelrooy because he did not think the player could stand the competition at his club.

The Dutch striker recently joined Hamburg on a free transfer from Real Madrid, where he was struggling for first-team football.

Mr Van Gaal is my friend, a very likeable guy. (He) just wants to irritate me a bit. I'm looking forward to seeing you soon in Munich.
Hamburg striker Ruud van Nistelrooy responds to taunts from Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal

Van Gaal, who coached Van Nistelrooy when he was in charge of the Netherlands, believes the former Manchester United man would have had a similar problem in Munich to the one he had in Madrid.

"I would not oblige him, because I just had a similar case with Luca Toni, who I let go (to Roma on loan)," Van Gaal told Bild.

"Toni could not deal with the competitive situation at Bayern. I think Ruud has the same problem. Otherwise he would have stayed in Madrid."

Van Nistelrooy, whose Hamburg side face Bayern on 28 February, took Van Gaal's comments with a pinch of salt.

"Mr Van Gaal is my friend, a very likeable guy. (He) just wants to irritate me a bit. I'm looking forward to seeing you soon in Munich."