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Louis van Gaal has banished Nani, Anderson and Wilfried Zaha from Manchester United’s first-team squad in a brutal show of power, reports Steve Bates in the Sunday People.

The 63-year-old Old Trafford chief has turfed the £60million trio out of his inner circle, forcing them to train at different times to the main squad, eat away from first-team stars ­including Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Robin van Persie, and excluded them from team briefings and game play strategy sessions.

It is a major blow for young England star Zaha and Portugal international Nani who both hoped to play a part under Van Gaal after a difficult campaign when David Moyes was in charge last season.

But it underlines the sheer ruthlessness and single-minded focus of Van Gaal, who has made it clear who is a part of his squad and who is not.

Van Gaal’s season got off to a miserable start with a 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford to Swansea City yesterday – and he was forced to call Nani on to the subs’ bench following a miserable run of early-season injuries.

Rafael was due to start against the Swans but picked up a knock in training. Jesse Lingard was promoted from the bench and such was the lack of numbers that the Dutchman had to turn to Nani.

That apart, the trio have been told they are not needed unless there is an emergency – and as such they are now outcasts when it comes to training and match days.

(Image: PA)

In the build-up to yesterday’s opening Premier League game against Swansea, Van Gaal ordered his main stars to train at 4pm at the club’s Carrington training complex.

But Nani, who signed a five-year contract last year, Anderson and Zaha were told to arrive for a 5.30pm session as the first team were finishing.

It is also believed that the trio have had their names removed from dressing room lockers in a final confirmation that their Old Trafford careers are over.

READ MORE: 5 things we learned from Swansea's win over Manchester United

Van Gaal is insisting they are sold, with Nani a £13million target for Juventus, and Zaha wanted by his old club Crystal Palace as well as Newcastle.

With fans becoming anxious at only two new arrivals this summer in Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw, United’s Dutch boss is urging transfer negotiator Ed Woodward to conclude deals for Sporting Lisbon’s Argentinian international centre-back Marcos Rojo and Ajax defender Danny Blind, who are both keen to join United.

But it is a headline signing United fans want – with midfielders Arturo Vidal of Juventus and Real Madrid’s Angel Di Maria still thought to be on United’s radar, along with Fiorentina winger Juan Cuadrado.

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In pictures: Manchester United lose to Swansea