Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has rubbished suggestions that it was 'humiliating' for Radamel Falcao to be dropped into the Under-21 side last week.

After ending United's 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Monday as an unused substitute, Falcao played for the reserves the following night.

Widespread reports have claimed that United have decided against activating an option to buy when the striker's loan deal from Monaco expires in the summer.

"I have read [playing in the U21s] was a humiliation - I do not think so," Van Gaal told reporters. "It is a professional attitude of the manager, the management, also the club and especially from the player. It's not only Falcao, [Victor] Valdes and Rafael [da Silva] have also played. He has not reacted how the media say he has reacted.

"We are looking for the solution. Sometimes players can give fantastic performances in one country but not another. It would not be the first time and it won't be the last. At a club like Man United, it is more difficult. He has competitors, he knows Wayne Rooney is playing there and scoring."

Falcao has scored just four goals since his arrival last September.