Done Deal – Manchester United COMPLETES £45m Deal, Will Play For Club On Thursday
Manchester United winger Angel Di Maria is expected to complete a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain today, but the match against his old employers on Thursday may come too soon for the Argentine, Independent reports.
The Ligue 1 champions have expressed confidence that they have secured a deal for the Red Devils outcast, who is leaving the Premier League club after only signing for a British record fee of £59.7million last summer.
Di Maria enjoyed a blistering start to his Man United career, but injury and an alarming loss of form ensured that he sat out most part of the 2014-15 season. Despite that he still managed to be the Premier League’s third highest assist maker behind Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas and Swansea’s Gylfi Sigurdsson.
A reported fall-out with Louis van Gaal and the burglary of his mansion has prompted a transfer move away from Old Trafford, with Bayern Munich also rumoured to be interested in the 27-year old at some point.
Meanwhile, PSG have moved above other suitors to land the former Real Madrid winger and a fee has been agreed with only medical remaining, according to reports.
However, with PSG’s next match on tour against Manchester United on Thursday in Chicago, Di Maria is unlikely to make his debut against his former side as the match would come too soon for him. His participation in the recent Copa America in Chile has made United give him an extended time and he has not had any pre-season training as he is still nursing a little injury which he suffered during the aforementioned South American tournament.
Despite Di Maria’s turbulent season at Old Trafford in which he managed 3 goals and 10 assists, his move to the Parc des Princes is celebrated as a major coup by PSG coaches and players.
Boss Laurent Blanc has already confirmed he is upbeat about his side’s chances of landing Di Maria and that a deal was close.
As per Independent, Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic who recently committed himself to PSG amid talks linking him to Milan and United this summer believes Di Maria can bring glory to Paris, as Gareth Bale did for Real Madrid in 2014.
For the past three seasons, the French outfit have always been knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter final stage and the Sweden international striker is now of the opinion that Di Maria’s arrival would help propel them further in the competition.
“The Champions League is all about small details. Real Madrid are a fantastic team. They have fantastic players. Of course, when Madrid got Bale they became better for sure and we will become better for sure with Di Maria.”
Ibrahimovic’s belief was also echoed by former Chelsea defender David Luiz, who played with Di Maria at Benfica from 2007 and 2010. The Brazilian joined PSG for £50million last summer and has now voiced his confidence the Red Devils’ attacker can cut it at the Parc des Princes.
“For us it is very good if we can sign a fantastic player like Di Maria. He is one of the top three wingers in the world,” Luiz said.
“He’s fast, technical, he plays for the team, he knows how to play as an individual, how to pass and how to score. He is a player that can help us go up another step.
“Why did it not work out in Manchester? Sometimes you cannot have luck in one place, but he is still a fantastic player.”
Meanwhile, United have identified Barcelona’s Pedro as the perfect player to replace Di Maria, and the Red Devils will be hoping they complete the transfer before their season opener against Tottenham on August 7.