Failed transfers: the Manchester United nightmare. Di María spent only one year in England

Ángel Di María came to Manchester United as a truly big star. However, it is safe to say that he has not been able to build on his previous performances and successes at Real Madrid at the English club.

Much was expected of him. When Ángel Di María transferred from Real Madrid to Manchester United on August 26, 2014, Red Devils fans were definitely expecting more from his arrival than what they finally got.

It should be noted, the Old Trafford outfit sent €75 million to the Spanish giant at the time. It was a solid bat for those days, as it was the most expensive transfer in the Premier League that year. United also broke the British transfer record.

He was expected to earn around 15 million euros in a year in Manchester, and with the current inflation, according to Capology , his earnings would have to rise by another three million.

But it’s no wonder the Red Devils have given the Argentine star such a wage. He has also become Manchester United’s second most expensive player. Radamel Falcao took two million more in the 2014/15 season, while legend Wayne Rooney took one million less.

Real Madrid star

Di María has played a total of 190 competitive games for Real Madrid, scoring 36 goals and 85 assists. Those are very respectable numbers, especially if you add in the team’s achievements as well.

The Rosario native became La Liga champion in a White Ballet jersey, also won the Champions League winner’s trophy and lifted the Copa del Rey winner’s trophy twice. The Spanish Super Cup and UEFA Super Cup championships thus already act as a nice bonus.

It should be noted, in 2014 he was the best Argentine footballer of the year. So what exactly, given the list of achievements and great individual stats, were United fans expecting? Another club legend, you might say.

A very unsuccessful transfer…

But nothing of the sort happened, quite the opposite. Di Maria’s transfer was not a success, the Old Trafford engagement simply didn’t suit him. Although he was also limited by minor injuries, but not long term.

At the start of his time in Manchester, he understandably started as a member of the starting line-up. But you have to admit that a record of 3+6 after 11 games played by a €75 million signing is nothing groundbreaking.

He missed the next three rounds of the Premier League due to a hamstring injury. In round 17, he came on against Aston Villa for 29 minutes, but after that he was not included in the squad for the next three games.

After that he returned to the starting eleven, but from the 30th round to the last one he was only a substitute.

It should be added, since his return to the starting line-up in the 21st round against Southampton, to whom United lost 0:1, Di María scored only two goals and assisted three others until the end of the 2014/15 league season.

Bottom line, 27 league appearances, just three goals and eleven assists, no trophy. He made five more starts in the FA Cup, where he added one goal and one assist. This transfer really didn’t go well, it was a misstep from both sides.

And when the two sides parted ways after a year together, it was a relief to all parties involved, apparently. So Di María moved to PSG for 63 million euros in August 2015. And only in Paris did he follow up his previous successful engagement at Real Madrid.

Sources: Premier League, Capology, Transfermarkt