The Manchester United - Angel Di Maria transfer has finally happened. The Argentina midfielder completed his move from Real Madrid to Old Trafford smoothly via a record £75 million deal. All parties can now move on. . . . not too fast though.
After completing the deal almost two weeks ago, Manchester United, Angel di Maria, and Real Madrid are back on the headlines of newspapers with dagger looks targeted mostly on the Spanish club.
According to the Argentinean midfielder, Real Madrid asked him not to play in the finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup against Germany. His team eventually lost the match, 0-1.
"There was a letter from Madrid that arrived at 11 in the morning of the match day, we were due to play at four in the afternoon ... I was putting ice on my leg to be in the final," Di María told the Argentinian radio station America on Friday.
"I tore up the letter as soon as it was given to me and didn't take any notice of it, I didn't care what might happen, but it was [the coach] Alejandro's [Sabella] decision," he said.
"I didn't want to make any demands of him but I also didn't want to leave the team a man short five minutes from a very important match."
Di Maria said that the letter was handed to late FA president Julio Grondona.
"The letter was handed to Julio and he said if I wanted to play I should do so anyway. From what I understand it had something to do with insurance."
Along with Grondona's son, they decided to tear the letter.
Manchester United Angel Di Maria transfer may have been completed but for the Argentinean midfielder, he never wanted to leave Santiago Bernabeau. He believes that he was sold so to make it easier for Real Madrid to collect the money they spent for James Rodgriguez, Toni Kroos, and other new recruits.
"I never wanted to leave Madrid, Cristiano (Ronaldo) always supported me to stay. Selling me was very good for Madrid to recover all they had spent [in the transfer market]," he said.
