‘I am still in contact’ with Sir Alex ‘he is the best’ – United old boy

Javier Hernandez says Sir Alex Ferguson “is still a very important person in my life” after revealing his admiration for the former Manchester United boss.

The Mexico striker, who has blasted 23 goals in 30 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen this season, has revealed he sought advice from Ferguson before he signed on loan for Real Madrid in the summer of 2014.

Chicharito left for the Bundesliga last summer after being deemed surplus to requirements by Louis van Gaal, but the 27-year-old says he would never have left Old Trafford had he been in the first-team picture.

United boss Louis van Gaal said he had no option but to sell Hernandez, who was desperate to play first-team football, and the Guadalajara-born forward bears no grudges towards the Dutchman.

“For me (Ferguson), he is the best,” Hernandez told BBC’s Football Focus.

“He gave me the chance to make my dream come true first of all in Europe and then for the biggest club in football history.

“For me Sir Alex Ferguson is still a very important person in my life. Even now when we played in the Champions League before the Atletico Madrid game we texted each other.

“I saw him two games ago and we still have lots of contact.

“When I was going to Real Madrid on loan I went to his house in person and we spoke.

“We keep in contact as well as we can because he has lots of other things to do now he has retired.”

Hernandez maintains he is not bitter over the way his exit from Old Trafford was handled by Van Gaal.

He added: “Of course it is disappointing when somebody doesn’t give you their 100% confidence, but I said thank you to him at the time because he was very honest.”

Hernandez scored 37 goals in 103 Premier League games over six seasons at Old Trafford before Leverkusen swooped to sign him for £7.3million.