Former Manchester United winger Jordi Cruyff admits he felt "liberated" when he signed for the club.

The 49-year-old is presently at Barcelona as their sporting director, working alongside president Joan Laporta.

The ex-United star will never forget his time at Old Trafford, not to mention when United beat Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final at the Nou Camp.

Speaking ahead Barca and United meeting in the Europa League on Thursday, Cruyff said: “Barcelona sent me to the draw and when I saw the ball come out, I was thinking: 'do I smile? Can I control myself?'

“When the draw was made last year both teams were in difficulties, we were out of the Champions League and yet now both clubs are alive again."

“You compare mortal with an immortal, a legend with a normal player and I know if people love to compare then it's stressful because you can never win," said Cruyff of his father Johan.

“I think I had that stress in Spain when I was younger and when I went to Manchester United that's where I felt liberated from all this - in my opinion – stupidity.

“I still have it almost on a daily basis, the older generation they still have tears when they see me, they want to talk, they just have a necessity to say something about my father and people still have tears in their eyes. I hear it. I'm proud."